BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Engineering: Skilled Workers

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of future engineering skills needs.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The assessment of future engineering skills needs is led by SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies sector. SEMTA has produced sector skills agreements (SSAs) for the aerospace, automotive, electronics and marine sectors in 2005-06. Each SSA identifies current workforce development and skills needs, sets out future skills needs and key skills requirements. SSAs are supported by an action plan which identifies the proposed ways in which the needs will be met. Government are working with the SSC and many other delivery partners to take these actions forward.
	Summary documents on the Aerospace, Automotive and Electronics SSA and the Marine SSA have been placed in the Library. Full reports of these can be viewed on the SEMTA website at:
	www.semta.org.uk.

Export Credit Guarantees: Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 251W, on Export Credit Guarantees: Iran, what UK policy is on whether UN Security Council Resolution 1747 applies to the provision of export credit guarantees.

Malcolm Wicks: UK policy is that UN Security Council Resolution 1747 does not apply to the provision of export credits. The UK has pressed, both at the UN and the EU, for constraints on the provision of new export credit support for Iran, since multilateral imposition would have the maximum impact. We were unable to secure an explicit reference to export credits in UN Security Council Resolution 1747 and, like other countries, have concluded that export credits are not therefore covered by the Resolution.
	We continue to press for multilateral constraints on new export credits to be among the sanctions options that may be included in a further UN Security Council Resolution and EU Common Position. Consistent with this stance, ECGD is reviewing its position on Iran and has stopped processing applications for new cover.

Export Credit Guarantees: Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 251W, on export credit guarantees: Iran, what form the Export Credits Guarantee Department market review of Iran takes; what criteria are being assessed in the review; and when he expects a decision to be made.

Malcolm Wicks: All markets are kept under regular review by ECGD to determine their riskiness.
	ECGD's formal risk assessment criteria for any sovereign risk includes the capacity and willingness of the country in question to meet its debt commitments (i.e. the risk of default) taking account of any uncertainties in its international relations; how long a default might last were it to occur (which informs our judgement on the risk of potential claims); and the likely loss that could be incurred. In addition, for riskier markets, ECGD reviews on an ongoing basis whether cover and premium policies and case handling arrangements remain appropriate.
	A decision on risk by ECGD is also subject to wider UK foreign policy objectives.

Information: Fees and Charges

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which stakeholders the Cambridge university academics commissioned to conduct a study on information pricing by his Department  (a) have met and  (b) plan to meet.

Gareth Thomas: The terms of reference produced at the time of the tender process is being placed in the Library of the House. This document has been made freely available to parties that request it.

Post Offices: Closures

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many responses have been received to the six-week consultation over proposed post office closures in the Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland, Argyll and Bute Area plan.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Teachers

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consideration he has given to requiring academies to operate according to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document; what recent representations he has received on this matter; and whether he plans to consult on it.

Jim Knight: holding answer 29 November 2007
	Academies are independent schools. One of their key features is the freedom to be innovative in the way they reward and retain staff. That said, we know that many Academies base their pay and conditions on the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document. We have no plans to make that compulsory and have received few representations on the subject.

Aviation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor spent on  (a) business and  (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The spend on  (a) business class flights in the 12 month period October 2006 to September 2007 for the former Department for Education and Skills was £241,936 and  (b) first class flights in the 12 month period October 2006 to September 2007 for the former Department for Education and Skills was £24,658.

Care Homes: Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance has been issued to  (a) local authority children's services,  (b) local authority children's homes and  (c) privately run children's homes on their responsibility to provide personal individual support for looked after children exhibiting difficulty at school either in relation to bullying or educational matters.

Kevin Brennan: Improving the education of children in care is the highest priority for the Government. The Children Act 2004 placed local authorities under a specific duty to promote the educational achievement of all children in their care. In 2005, we issued statutory guidance on the duty on to promote the educational achievement of looked after children, which set out how local authorities should meet this duty. This included guidance on how they should ensure children's homes support the education of children in care.
	The National Minimum Standards (NMS) for children's homes make it clear that measures must be in place within local authority and privately run children's homes to address bullying. In particular, there must be a policy on preventing and countering bullying which is known to staff and children. This includes bullying that may occur outside the home.
	We recognise that the education of children and young people in care is not good enough. "Care Matters: Time for Change", published in June 2006, set out a range of measures to improve the attainment of those in care and, in particular, personalise their learning in order to narrow the gap between children in care and all children. This work is underpinned by a public service agreement to narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers, and the provisions in the Children and Young Persons Bill.
	Following the passage of the Children and Young Persons Bill we are committed to revising the Children Act 1989 guidance and National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes. This will include guidance on how local authorities and children's homes should support the education of children and young people in care and ensure that those experiencing difficulty receive the support that they need.

Children: Databases

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what reviews have been undertaken by external consultants of the security measures proposed for the ContactPoint database; and what recommendations were made in those reviews.

Kevin Brennan: ContactPoint has been subject to scrutiny at key stages throughout its development. My Department's own Chief Security Officer—external to and independent from the project, has checked the Security Policy, the security architecture, and our risk assessment, and found them to be appropriate.
	The news on 20 November of the loss of large volumes of child benefit data from HMRC has raised questions about the safety of large scale personal data in other Government systems, including ContactPoint. ContactPoint will not contain any financial information (such as bank details) or case information (such as case notes, assessments, medical records, exam results or subjective observations).
	On 20 November, the department conducted an assessment of how personal data are stored and protected in the Department. As a result of that assessment, I am confident that we have very robust procedures in place.
	On 21 November, the Prime Minister confirmed this approach when he asked all departments to check their procedures for the storage and use of data. In light of the security breach at the HMRC, we are continuing to check our procedures to ensure standards are as high as they can be. To this end, on 20 November, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families decided to commission an independent assessment of its security procedures. This will be undertaken by Deloitte.

Children: Databases

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library copies of the regulations, guidance and directions, on the operation of databases made under section 9 of the Children Act 2004;
	(2)  what the outcome was of the feasibility work undertaken to identify the best source of a unique identifying number in relation to databases established under the Children Act 2004.

Kevin Brennan: In relation to question 170208, The Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations (SI2007/2182) and the accompanying explanatory memorandum are available from the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20072182.htm, and:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/em2007/uksiem 20072182_en.pdf
	and can be accessed from the Library.
	The Department consulted on draft ContactPoint Guidance between 4 May and 27 July 2007. I am arranging for a copy of the consultation draft of the ContactPoint Guidance to be supplied to the Library. We plan to publish the Guidance in June/July 2008 in advance of deployment to the Early Adopter local authorities in September/October 2008.
	Section 12 of the Children Act 2004 provides for the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to establish and operate a database (to be known as ContactPoint) and to make regulations and issue guidance and directions in relation to its establishment and operation. The Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007 were approved by affirmative resolution in this House on 23 July 2007, and in another place on 18 July 2007, and have been in force since 1 August 2007. No directions have been issued under Section 12 of the Children Act 2004.
	In relation to question 170209, the number to be used for identifying child records on the ContactPoint system will be an entirely new and unique number generated from the child reference number by 'electronic code book encryption'.
	This new number will thus be based on, but entirely different to the child reference number, which underpins the child benefit system, such that the unique link between the two numbers will be securely and separately held. This is the strongest form of such encryption, and no pattern or link can be made between these two numbers.

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the levels of availability of childcare for children aged 12 and upwards.

Beverley Hughes: Local authorities are required to complete by 31 March 2008 assessments of the sufficiency of child care in their areas in relation to children of all ages, covering supply of places, demand for places and gaps between the two. Their assessments will provide the basis for their duty to secure sufficient child care for all working parents from 1 April 2008.
	The Government do not collect this data centrally because child care markets are essentially very local, and local authority level assessments aggregated nationally would be potentially misleading. Sufficiency, of course, is not just about numbers but about a host of criteria including accessibility, flexibility and affordability, as well as quantity.
	Secondary schools, as part of the development of extended services, are expected to provide young people access to a varied menu of activities in a safe place to be, before and after school from 8 am to 6 pm and during the school holidays in response to demand. At present, 1,720 secondary schools are providing access to the full core offer of extended services.
	The core offer in secondary schools comprises: a varied menu to activities in a safe place to be, parenting support, swift and easy access to a wide range of specialist support services and community access to school facilities.

Children: Speech Therapy

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the merits of integrating the Communication Trust's Speech, Language and Communication Framework into the Children's Workforce Development Council's Integrated Qualifications Framework.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has not made an assessment. It is for those awarding bodies developing qualifications for inclusion on the Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF), in conjunction with sector bodies, such as the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), to determine what skills and knowledge is covered by qualifications. The Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF) is currently in its testing phase and will not be fully operational until 2010.
	CWDC and the Children's Workforce Network are working together to consider how best to meet the needs of children and young people with a range of disabilities, including speech, language and communication.

Departmental Consultants

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what contracts his Department has with external consultants; what the total value, including all VAT and disbursements, of these contracts are for the current financial year; how long each contract lasts; and what the forecast total value is of each contract.

Kevin Brennan: Our records show the total number of live contracts with external consultants as at 1 October 2007 was 256; the estimated value of these contracts for the current financial year is £40.5 million; and the estimated value of these contracts over their contractual period is £89.9 million.
	To list these contracts to estimate the forecasted total value for each contract and the duration of each contract would all exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many breaches of data protection security there were in his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of each breach;

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in his Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data;

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when each electronic database held by his Department containing personal information on members of the general public was first created;
	(2)  how many staff in his Department have access to electronic databases which contain personal information on members of the general public, broken down by grade;
	(3)  how many security breaches regarding access to personal data occurred within his Department in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department, setting out in each case their  (a) responsibilities and  (b) pay bands.

Kevin Brennan: The names and pay bands of all special advisers are contained in the Prime Minister's written statement to the House of 22 November 2007,  Official Report, column 148-49WS.
	Their duties are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

English Language

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the additional demands that children without English as their first language place on primary and secondary schools.

Jim Knight: At January 2007, there were 789,720 children in primary and secondary schools with English as an additional language (EAL): that is 120,240 or some 18 per cent. higher than in 2004. EAL children comprise 12 per cent. of the whole population, up from 9 per cent. in 2004. Schools need to help such children acquire fluency in English as early as possible so that they can access the full curriculum.
	The Government provide funding for new arrivals and EAL children in schools through two main routes. The first is an element within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for primary schools which was some £256 million in 2004-05, rising to £299 million in 2007-08, with a further rise to over £330 million in 2010-11—an 11 per cent. real terms increase on the 2004-05 level. The second is a substantial provision for EAL through the ring fenced Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), which has risen from £162 million in 2004-05 to £179 million in 2007-08 and will rise to £206 million by 2010-11—a 9 per cent. increase on the 2004-05 level. In addition an Exceptional Circumstances Grant (ECG) has been introduced to reflect changes in local authorities' pupil numbers which occur after the three year indicative allocations of DSG have been announced. It has three elements covering: an increase of more than 2.5 per cent. in overall pupil numbers; an increase of more than 2.5 per cent. in the proportion of children with EAL; and a one-off payment to authorities with EAL proportions below 10 per cent. which experience an increase in their EAL proportion of more than 2.5 per cent.
	These increases in funding form part of the substantial overall increase in school funding: over the past 10 years since 1997, overall per pupil revenue funding for schools has increased by 67 per cent. in real terms. We expect local authorities to be able to manage new pressures from within these very substantial increases.

EU Lisbon Strategy

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to meet the objectives of the EU Lisbon strategy.

Jim Knight: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The contribution of education and training to the Lisbon agenda is set out in the Education and Training 2010 Work Programme, and this Department plays an active role within the four main strands of the programme: setting priority areas for action; supporting peer learning and exchange of best practice; benchmarking progress; and developing common tools to support EU mobility and transparency of qualifications.
	Furthermore, the UK's contribution to the EU Ministerial Education and Youth Councils and the official level working groups is rooted in the Lisbon Strategy, as this is where we see the EU as adding the most value. In particular, we are working to ensure that education and youth policy complements those policies being developed in other Lisbon spheres such as employment, social policy, and economic and financial affairs. This will help member states develop policies which will equip their citizens with the education and skills needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy.

Free School Meals

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students in each London borough were eligible to receive free school meals in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The available information has been placed in the Library. The tables have been taken from the Statistical First Release "Schools and Pupils in England: January 2007 (Final)" which is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000744/index.shtml.

Free School Meals: Greater London

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of children in  (a) Uxbridge constituency and  (b) each London borough were eligible for free school meals in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The requested information has been placed in the Library.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of more modular examinations at GCSE and A level on examination results since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to regulate the public examinations system, and review standards. The QCA seeks views on the effect of modular examinations through consultations with stakeholders and by monitoring standards. However, it is difficult to disentangle the impact of modularisation from that of any other changes to GCSEs and A levels.
	QCA has worked to ensure that standards are consistent and results have improved. Anecdotally, at A level the introduction of AS has helped this by engaging more candidates from the outset and, by allowing them to take a wider range of subjects, candidates concentrate on the subjects they are best at for the full A level.
	QCA sought views on the effect of modular examinations as part of the consultation on GCSE criteria which was run earlier this year. The results of the consultation will be available on the QCA website, www.qca.org.uk, in mid-December.

Head Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers have been appointed without the National Professional Qualification for Headship as existing head teachers changing schools, in each year since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We do not hold data on how many head teachers have moved to a second or subsequent headship post since 2004 and do not hold the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), as there is no tracking of teacher movements across the system. It is compulsory for all new heads in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools to have, or be working towards, NPQH if they took up their first headship post in a local authority maintained school or a special school after April 2004. It will be mandatory to hold the qualification (rather than be working towards it) from 1 April 2009. However, it is not a requirement for head teachers who took up their first headship post prior to April 2004 to hold NPQH in their existing post, or if appointed to a second or subsequent headship post.

Higher Education: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many students from British Overseas Territories have obtained places at London universities in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many students from British Crown Dependencies have obtained places at London universities in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The latest available information is given in the table. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.
	
		
			  Entrants to Higher Education Institutions in London ( 1)  from British Overseas Territories ( 2)  and British Crown Dependencies ( 3)  by Level of Study  Academic years 1997/98 to 2005/06 
			  Level of study  Academic year  Entrants from British Overseas Territories  Entrants from British Crown Dependencies 
			 Postgraduate 1997/98 15 30 
			  1998/99 25 30 
			  1999/2000 10 25 
			  2000/01 20 30 
			  2001/02 10 35 
			  2002/03 20 50 
			  2003/04 20 60 
			  2004/05 35 50 
			  2005/06 30 45 
			 Undergraduate 1997/98 10 75 
			  1998/99 20 80 
			  1999/2000 15 115 
			  2000/01 20 110 
			  2001/02 15 100 
			  2002/03 15 135 
			  2003/04 15 110 
			  2004/05 20 105 
			  2005/06 20 120 
			 Total 1997/98 25 105 
			  1998/99 45 105 
			  1999/2000 25 140 
			  2000/01 40 140 
			  2001/02 30 135 
			  2002/03 35 185 
			  2003/04 40 170 
			  2004/05 50 155 
			  2005/06 50 165 
			 (1) Includes all Higher Education Institutions in London Government Office Region. (2) British Overseas Territories are—Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Isles, St. Helena and its Dependencies, Turks and Caicos Islands. But also Gibraltar and the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, students from which are counted as EU nationals for fee purposes. (3) British Crown Dependencies are—Isle of Man Channel Islands: Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey (including Guernsey and its dependencies)  Note:  Numbers are on a Snapshot basis as at 1 December, and have been rounded to the nearest 5.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Mathematics: GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage score was required for a GCSE pass in mathematics at Grade A for each examination board in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: This information is not held centrally. The process awarding bodies go through to ensure that standards are consistent means that there will be variations in terms of raw marks required between different awarding bodies' qualifications and from year-to-year.
	It is for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as the qualifications regulator to oversee the awarding process to ensure that standards are comparable both between different qualifications and over time. The Chief Executive of QCA, Dr. Ken Boston, has written to the hon. Member on this issue and a copy of his reply and the report mentioned have been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Ken Boston, dated 20 November 2007:
	 GCSE and  A level grades
	Thank you for your letter of 30 October following the answer that Jim Knight MP provided in response to your Parliamentary Question.
	Although Jim Knight's response indicated that the QCA is responsible for maintaining standards across qualifications and over time, it also stated that the level of information on grade boundaries that you are asking for is not held centrally. I am afraid that this means that QCA does not hold the information either. It is the awarding bodies that offer GCSE and A level qualifications who are responsible for setting grade boundary marks in each subject for every examination series.
	Although I am unable to provide the data you request, I think it would be helpful to explain how the number of marks required to achieve a grade in any particular examination series is determined and which conclusions can be drawn from variations in the number of raw marks required to achieve a particular grade boundary each year.
	For each discrete unit within a qualification (for example, there are currently six units in most A level qualifications) the mark required to achieve a particular grade is determined by an awarding body's awarding committee according to a process that is set out in a code of practice issued by QCA. An awarding committee comprises the most senior examiners for a qualification. They are required to use professional judgment, supported by technical and statistical data, to ensure that standards are carried forward from year to year. In other words, the committee must ensure that the same level of performance will achieve the same grade across different years. However, as different question papers are used in each examination series it is possible that the demand of the question paper might not be identical year-on-year. To take into account unforeseen variances in the demand of question papers between years, the awarding committee may adjust the number of marks required to achieve a particular grade in any given year in order to ensure standards are maintained.
	The awarding bodies that offer GCSE and A levels are AQA, Edexcel and OCR in England, WJEC in Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland: Between them, each of these awarding bodies offers up to 50 different subjects at GCSE and 40 different subjects at A level. Some awarding bodies offer more than one qualification in each subject per qualification type. In addition there are now opportunities to sit GCSE examinations in March, November and June and A level examinations in January and June.
	Therefore, answering your question would require the collection of an extremely large amount of data in the form of a list of each grade A and grade C boundary mark for each of the hundreds of GCSE and A level specifications in each of the examination series in each of the 10 years since 1997. The only inference that could realistically be taken from such data would be that mark boundaries have varied and, indeed must vary, in order to maintain standards. Furthermore, raw mark grade boundary data could also be misleading as they would not necessarily indicate where there have been changes in the total number of marks available in a particular examination component.
	On previous occasions, QCA has investigated the issue of changes in grade boundaries to look at whether a change in grade boundary marks indicated a change in standards. We looked at a number of grade boundaries in English, English Literature and Mathematics over a number of years. In addition, QCA collected data from a wide range of GCSE and A level examinations in a single year. We concluded that changes in grade boundaries did not indicate a change in standards and that it would not be necessary for us to expand our investigation or collect data from a wider sample. I attach a copy of the report on this work.
	However, all of this is in relation to raw mark grade boundaries only. A levels and modular GCSEs allow candidates to sit component parts of the same qualification in different examination series and because papers in different years will be of slightly differing demand a method of scaling is required to ensure that the same level of achievement would receive the same grade across examination series. This scale is the Uniform Mark Scale (UMS) and it enables units for which different amounts of marks are available to be aggregated across or within an examination series to give an overall grade. The percentage of UMS marks required to achieve a given grade does not vary. At GCSE the following percentage of the maximum uniform marks available for a component is required to achieve a particular grade: A* - 90% of the available uniform marks; A - 80%; B - 70%; C - 60%; D - 50%; E - 40%; F - 30%; G - 20%. At A level to following percentage of maximum uniform marks are required to achieve a particular grade: A - 80%; B - 70; C - 60%; D - 50%; E - 40%.
	Although QCA is unable to answer your question in the terms in which you asked it, I hope that I have been able to provide you with information that you find to be of use.

Opinion Leader Research

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997 was; and what was  (a) the title and purpose,  (b) the cost to the public purse and  (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has contracted with Opinion Leader Research through the Central Office of Information (COI) Market Research Framework on 15 occasions since 2001. The details of those contracts are shown in the following table.
	In addition, the Department also contracted with Opinion Leader Research through its own tendering processes to deliver, as part of the 10 Year Childcare Strategy, Parents' Forums aimed to inform the consultation process on the strategy. The cost was £70,172.14. It was tendered in January 2005 and awarded on 25 January 2005. The project was carried out and a report on findings delivered to the Department on 23 March 2005.
	Details of contacts with Opinion Leader Research prior to 2001 are not held centrally and to gather that data in order to answer this question would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Title and purpose of the project  Cost (£)  Date to tender  Date of award  Date carried out  Date completed/findings put to Department 
			  Student Funding  
			 Strategic qualitative research, as part of a review of student funding in England, to understand fully how the current system is perceived and to pre test a number of alternative approaches 41,300.00 Direct Selection (option available for Framework Agreements) September 2001 October- November 2001 November 2001 
			   
			  HE Positioning Research  
			 Research as part of the review of student fees and loans to assess attitudes to the current arrangements and how best to communicate with key stakeholders 102,050.00 Direct Selection because it was a continuation of work they had completed in this area August 2002 September to October 2002 October 2002 
			   
			  Secondary School Positioning W1  
			 Consultation to establish how key audiences perceive future changes to secondary education 53,800.00 December 2002 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework December 2002 January to February 2003 February 2003 
			   
			  Supermarket research  
			 Consultation exercise to test parents reactions to the concept and to some communications ideas 19,960.00 December 2003 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 
			   
			  Supermarket research follow up  
			 Research to assess the success of the pilot of the Parent Know How stand in 15 ASDA stores around London 59,950.00 July 2004 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework August 2004 September 2004 November 2004 
			   
			  Supermarket pilot pre-test  
			 Creative development research to pre-test the look and feel of two design routes being used for a pilot for distributing information about education and related issues to parents via supermarkets 10,750.00 Direct select linked to previous project work July 2004 July 2004 July 2004 
			   
			  Supermarket pilot research pre-test  
			 Exit interviews on parent information booklet stands in supermarkets 18,500.00 Direct select—Continuation of Pilot evaluation from last year July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 
			   
			  Supermarket research  
			 Pilot campaign evaluation for the Parent Know How stand in 40 ASDA stores 113,900.00 Not tendered—Second part of ongoing research August 2005 September- October 2005 November 2005 
			   
			  Supermarkets qualitative Booklets Research  
			 Qualitative research to understand the overall appeal of the full range Parent Know How leaflets in terms of look, layout and content 17,040.00 Not tendered— Part of the Supermarket Research run by OLR October 2005 September -October 2005 October 2005 
			   
			  London Challenge  
			 Qualitative research to explore parents views of London schools and to generate and explore initial ideas for a communications campaign on behalf of London schools 12,000.00 Direct select OLR already working on a linked project October 2005 October 2005 October 2005 
			   
			  Supermarkets Follow up phase 2  
			 Consultation to assess the success of the pilot of the Parent Know How stand in 40 ASDA stores throughout the country 14,500.00 Direct selection Continuation of an ongoing project March 2006 March 2006 March 2006 
			   
			  Every Child Matters  
			 Creative Development research to test messaging alternatives relating to its Every Child Matters campaign 48,372.50 Direct selection March 2006 April to May 2006 May 2006 
			   
			  Skills Challenge Public Debate  
			 Deliberative event to start a process of engagement leading to the Governments response to the Leitch Review later in the year 130,625.00 January 2007 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework February 2007 February 2007 February 2007 
			   
			  Parental engagement with local authorities  
			 Research to explore good practice in parental engagement, both for the specific local authorities who are taking part in the research and to disseminate to local authorities in general 89,933.00 June 2007 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 
			   
			  Children's Plan deliberative consultation  
			 Deliberative events across England and wider community consultation, to inform the development of the Children's Plan 318,401.00 August 2007 Mini tendered to three organisations on the framework September 2007 October to November 2007 November 2007

Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many items of post sent by his Department and its predecessor were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (and its predecessor), does not maintain historical records of items of post reported missing by the intended recipient. Any such mail reported missing to the Department's mail rooms are dealt with on a case by case basis until an outcome can be determined and a resolution reached.

Primary Education

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the levels of numeracy and literacy were among primary school leavers in each London borough on the latest date for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Levels of literacy and numeracy in primary school leavers are most commonly measured by the proportions of children gaining National Curriculum level 4 and above in English and mathematics, since these represent the expected national standard. The information in the table gives the percentages of 11-year-olds achieving these levels in 2007 based on provisional data. The figures for 1998 and the national averages are also shown for comparison. Inner and Outer London boroughs are listed separately.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests by local authority (LA), in the London Government office region (GOR) 
			   1998  2007 (Provisional) 
			   English  Mathematics  English  Mathematics 
			 London GOR 64 56 79 76 
			 City of London 89 85 96 96 
			 Inner London boroughs 57 50 77 73 
			 Camden 62 58 78 76 
			 Hackney 52 47 73 66 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 61 54 81 77 
			 Haringey 56 49 75 72 
			 Islington 58 51 76 74 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 69 58 86 82 
			 Lambeth 56 48 77 71 
			 Lewisham 59 52 76 73 
			 Newham 51 45 74 72 
			 Southwark 54 46 76 71 
			 Tower Hamlets 51 45 79 77 
			 Wandsworth 64 56 79 77 
			 Westminster 69 62 81 76 
			 Outer London boroughs 67 60 80 77 
			 Barking and Dagenham 60 54 77 76 
			 Barnet 73 66 84 81 
			 Bexley 68 59 84 78 
			 Brent 64 60 78 74 
			 Bromley 73 66 84 78 
			 Croydon 66 57 80 74 
			 Ealing 66 57 78 76 
			 Enfield 66 56 77 74 
			 Greenwich 52 48 72 71 
			 Harrow 74 65 80 77 
			 Havering 71 65 84 81 
			 Hillingdon 68 64 81 77 
			 Hounslow 63 57 78 76 
			 Kingston upon Thames 73 67 83 81 
			 Merton 66 53 79 77 
			 Redbridge 70 61 83 80 
			 Richmond upon Thames 79 74 88 84 
			 Sutton 68 61 84 82 
			 Waltham Forest 60 51 75 74 
			 England (maintained schools) 64 58 80 77

Primary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Rose Review recommendations in primary schools.

Jim Knight: We have accepted all of the Rose Review's recommendations and have paid particular attention to the recommendation that phonics should be taught as the prime approach to learning to read. We have renewed the primary framework for teaching literacy to reflect this. To further support teachers and practitioners in implementing this key change, and in line with the Review's recommendations, we have worked with Jim Rose to produce a high quality phonics teaching programme, Letters and Sounds. As an alternative for schools that instead wish to use a commercial phonics programme, we have published guidance on a set of criteria which define the key features of an effective phonics teaching programme and which build directly on the Review's recommendations.
	We have taken steps to ensure that local authorities have the capacity and expertise to support schools in developing effective phonics teaching. The Communication, Language and Literacy Development (CLLD) programme, specifically developed to implement the Review's recommendations, builds greater quality and capacity in the teaching of early literacy through developing work on speaking and listening; strengthening leadership and management of early literacy; and supporting all schools with phonics and early reading. The CLLD programme has provided training in early reading for every local authority and has funded additional consultants to lead this work in 50 targeted authorities.
	We are also working with local authorities and the Training and Development Agency to ensure that newly qualified practitioners are equipped with the necessary skills to implement the Rose Review recommendations.

Primary Education: Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to increase the number of people training to be primary school teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We will be increasing significantly the number of places available for initial teacher training in the primary phase from 2008/09 onwards. This is in response to population census information showing that the number of primary age children will rise in the next few years. Details of the number of places will be available shortly.

Pupils: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which month secondary schools receive key stage 2 test results data for pupils entering the school in year 7.

Jim Knight: The results of National Curriculum Key Stage 2 tests are included in the head teacher's annual report which forms part of the common transfer file of information which must be transferred between schools when pupils change schools. The Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005 require that when a pupil changes schools, this file is sent to the receiving school no later than 15 school days after the day on which the pupil ceases to be registered at the old school. For most pupils entering secondary school, this will mean that the results will be transferred in September.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what average Government spending was per child in  (a) Uxbridge constituency,  (b) each London borough and  (c) England in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Uxbridge constituency is not available. The figures for Hillingdon local authority are included in the breakdown by London boroughs.
	The revenue funding figures per pupil for primary schools (pupils aged three to 10), secondary schools (pupils aged 11 to 15) and all pupils (aged three to 19) for England and for each local authority in Greater London for years 1997-98 to 2005-06 are as follows:
	
		
			  Primary (pupils aged three to 10) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 England 2,560 2,660 2,830 3,070 3,260 3,340 3,550 3,660 3,870 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,690 2,940 3,100 3,320 3,520 3,700 4,030 4,170 4,350 
			 Barnet 2,770 2,850 3,020 3,190 3,460 3,540 3,840 3,970 4,260 
			 Bexley 2,610 2,720 2,840 3,010 3,180 3,280 3,510 3,610 3,770 
			 Brent 3,170 3,280 3,490 3,680 3,940 4,130 4,400 4,570 4,860 
			 Bromley 2,630 2,750 2,910 3,110 3,280 3,340 3,480 3,600 3,790 
			 Camden 3,820 3,780 4,080 4,410 4,720 4,890 5,300 5,540 5,750 
			 Croydon 2,890 2,930 3,120 3,310 3,510 3,620 3,770 3,920 4,100 
			 Ealing 2,840 3,040 3,250 3,500 3,750 3,860 4,220 4,390 4,700 
			 Enfield 2,860 2,970 3,190 3,390 3,610 3,780 3,990 4,140 4,310 
			 Greenwich 3,360 3,440 3,730 4,080 4,310 4,460 4,760 4,920 5,240 
			 Hackney 3,970 3,990 4,340 4,650 4,890 5,110 5,450 5,610 5,980 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,730 3,750 4,020 4,370 4,650 4,930 5,190 5,390 5,570 
			 Haringey 3,290 3,390 3,670 3,960 4,260 4,410 4,620 4,820 4,980 
			 Harrow 2,750 2,820 2,990 3,220 3,400 3,490 3,830 3,990 4,250 
			 Havering 2,600 2,710 2,830 3,020 3,220 3,290 3,460 3,560 3,750 
			 Hillingdon 2,770 2,860 3,040 3,230 3,350 3,430 3,740 3,890 4,140 
			 Hounslow 2,850 2,960 3,180 3,410 3,610 3,800 4,160 4,290 4,570 
			 Islington 3,620 3,760 4,040 4,460 4,780 4,940 5,240 5,440 5,760 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,640 3,710 4,110 4,490 4,860 5,190 5,400 5,600 5,750 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,560 2,650 2,820 3,060 3,290 3,330 3,510 3,630 3,890 
			 Lambeth 3,990 4,020 4,300 4,610 4,820 5,040 5,310 5,520 5,760 
			 Lewisham 3,650 3,710 3,950 4,220 4,480 4,670 4,940 5,050 5,380 
			 Merton 2,780 2,820 3,010 3,270 3,530 3,520 3,830 3,980 4,240 
			 Newham 3,380 3,490 3,670 3,890 4,170 4,330 4,600 4,760 5,010 
			 Redbridge 2,860 2,910 3,060 3,220 3,390 3,460 3,700 3,840 4,050 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,710 2,690 2,840 3,070 3,260 3,300 3,470 3,610 3,830 
			 Southwark 3,680 3,770 4,050 4,340 4,600 4,780 5,000 5,130 5,530 
			 Sutton 2,800 2,820 2,970 3,160 3,340 3,400 3,570 3,700 3,860 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,800 3,960 4,370 4,650 4,970 5,190 5,620 5,780 6,190 
			 Waltham Forest 3,180 3,230 3,420 3,660 3,920 4,070 4,230 4,410 4,570 
			 Wandsworth 3,380 3,430 3,670 3,940 4,180 4,260 4,640 4,750 5,080 
			 Westminster 3,650 3,640 3,980 4,260 4,530 4,760 5,120 5,260 5,490 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary (aged 11 to 15) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999- 20 00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 England 3,490 3,580 3,710 4,020 4,230 4,330 4,410 4,600 4,770 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,070 4,180 4,290 4,690 5,030 5,100 5,070 5,270 5,370 
			 Barnet 3,720 3,790 3,930 4,140 4,490 4,640 4,700 4,930 5,230 
			 Bexley 3,610 3,700 3,780 4,010 4,250 4,360 4,380 4,570 4,710 
			 Brent 4,480 4,520 4,700 5,000 5,420 5,550 5,670 5,940 6,170 
			 Bromley 3,540 3,610 3,720 3,950 4,200 4,310 4,440 4,670 4,820 
			 Camden 4,710 4,850 5,200 5,700 6,040 6,190 6,550 6,850 6,920 
			 Croydon 3,910 4,020 4,180 4,430 4,730 4,880 4,950 5,150 5,320 
			 Ealing 4,180 4,280 4,420 4,800 5,210 5,230 5,370 5,670 5,950 
			 Enfield 3,930 3,980 4,090 4,330 4,740 4,880 4,940 5,150 5,280 
			 Greenwich 4,620 4,730 5,030 5,600 5,900 5,990 6,110 6,300 6,610 
			 Hackney 5,440 5,590 5,970 6,440 6,800 6,980 7,370 7,720 7,980 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,800 4,990 5,280 5,730 6,070 6,360 6,590 6,890 6,970 
			 Haringey 4,680 4,730 5,020 5,410 5,800 5,890 6,220 6,490 6,530 
			 Harrow 3,750 3,840 3,960 4,180 4,510 4,690 4,840 5,050 5,210 
			 Havering 3,570 3,660 3,740 3,970 4,240 4,350 4,410 4,620 4,780 
			 Hillingdon 3,710 3,790 3,950 4,190 4,440 4,580 4,630 4,880 5,150 
			 Hounslow 3,960 4,050 4,190 4,450 4,820 4,960 5,120 5,330 5,560 
			 Islington 5,050 5,170 5,500 6,090 6,580 6,760 6,860 7,110 7,420 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,570 4,820 5,170 5,640 6,010 6,450 7,000 7,280 7,310 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,530 3,610 3,720 3,950 4,240 4,380 4,450 4,650 4,890 
			 Lambeth 5,520 5,720 6,120 6,660 6,970 7,170 7,120 7,560 7,760 
			 Lewisham 4,870 4,990 5,270 5,710 6,080 6,290 6,540 6,780 7,120 
			 Merton 3,800 3,890 4,020 4,270 4,640 4,710 4,840 5,080 5,350 
			 Newham 4,550 4,690 4,880 5,300 5,680 5,760 5,700 5,910 6,100 
			 Redbridge 3,820 3,900 3,990 4,260 4,560 4,670 4,530 4,730 4,890 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,420 3,510 3,620 3,870 4,140 4,290 4,460 4,690 4,870 
			 Southwark 5,060 5,140 5,440 5,920 6,280 6,470 6,670 7,270 7,470 
			 Sutton 3,580 3,650 3,740 3,940 4,190 4,300 4,440 4,650 4,770 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,350 5,420 5,850 6,360 6,770 6,920 6,970 7,250 7,520 
			 Waltham Forest 4,260 4,310 4,540 4,900 5,290 5,410 5,500 5,690 5,790 
			 Wandsworth 4,610 4,650 4,950 5,370 5,670 5,710 6,110 6,320 6,520 
			 Westminster 4,490 4.590 4,930 5.370 5,650 5,880 6,340 6,520 6,620 
		
	
	
		
			  Total (pupils aged three to 19) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 England 3,120 3,180 3,320 3,580 3,760 3,870 4,000 4,150 4,350 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,410 3,570 3,690 3,960 4,190 4,360 4,530 4,720 4,880 
			 Barnet 3,410 3,450 3,580 3,760 4,040 4,190 4,360 4,510 4,800 
			 Bexley 3,190 3,260 3,350 3,540 3,730 3,860 3,990 4,120 4,310 
			 Brent 3,950 4,000 4,160 4,360 4,640 4,840 5,050 5,240 5,500 
			 Bromley 3,210 3,270 3,390 3,590 3,780 3,900 4,030 4,200 4,380 
			 Camden 4,660 4,640 4,890 5,260 5,510 5,720 5,920 6,180 6,340 
			 Croydon 3,460 3,510 3,660 3,870 4,080 4,210 4,290 4,480 4,660 
			 Ealing 3,580 3,710 3,860 4,150 4,420 4,530 4,770 4,980 5,270 
			 Enfield 3,520 3,570 3,720 3,930 4,190 4,380 4,490 4,670 4,830 
			 Greenwich 4,120 4,170 4,430 4,850 5,080 5,300 5,440 5,610 5,920 
			 Hackney 4,820 4,830 5,140 5,500 5,720 5,930 6,180 6,390 6,730 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,580 4,620 4,840 5,210 5,450 5,760 5,880 6,120 6,260 
			 Haringey 4,060 4,100 4,350 4,660 4,950 5,080 5,280 5,510 5,640 
			 Harrow 3,330 3,380 3,510 3,740 3,950 4,070 4,280 4,470 4,690 
			 Havering 3,170 3,240 3,330 3,530 3,740 3,840 3,950 4,100 4,280 
			 Hillingdon 3,370 3,420 3,560 3,770 3,900 4,040 4,220 4,430 4,690 
			 Hounslow 3,560 3,630 3,790 4,030 4,260 4,470 4,700 4,860 5,120 
			 Islington 4,460 4,550 4,790 5,280 5,610 5,760 5,920 6,160 6,490 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,550 4,620 4,940 5,320 5,590 5,940 6,070 6,320 6,450 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,180 3,230 3,360 3,580 3,810 3,930 4,070 4,260 4,500 
			 Lambeth 4,890 4,930 5,160 5,510 5,710 5,920 5,980 6,230 6,490 
			 Lewisham 4,400 4,440 4,640 4,960 5,220 5,410 5,610 5,780 6,090 
			 Merton 3,380 3,420 3,570 3,820 4,100 4,120 4,320 4,500 4,770 
			 Newham 4,050 4,150 4,310 4,580 4,880 5,010 5,120 5,300 5,530 
			 Redbridge 3,500 3,520 3,610 3,800 3,990 4,130 4,180 4,360 4,540 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,190 3,190 3,310 3,540 3,730 3,790 3,890 4,060 4,260 
			 Southwark 4,440 4,490 4,730 5,060 5,320 5,500 5,650 5,900 6,260 
			 Sutton 3,360 3,360 3,470 3,650 3,840 3,990 4,120 4,300 4,460 
			 Tower Hamlets 4,670 4,780 5,180 5,550 5,870 6,070 6,280 6,470 6,820 
			 Waltham Forest 3,830 3,850 4,020 4,290 4,570 4,720 4,820 5,030 5,180 
			 Wandsworth 4,200 4,200 4,390 4,690 4,900 4,980 5,300 5,470 5,780 
			 Westminster 4,500 4,490 4,770 5,100 5,290 5,520 5,770 5,950 6,100 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: Real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26.09.07. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three to 19 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. For those authorities in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004-05, advance grant funding is included in the year of payment (2004-05). There will be a consequential reduction in DfES grant for these LEAs in future years (either 2006-07 and 2007-08 or 2006-7 to 2008-9, depending on the terms on which the advance was given to the LEA). The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 6. 1997-98 figures for authorities subject to local government reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures. 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the dedicated schools grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with those for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the schools block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2006-07 to 2007-08 for England and for each local authority in Greater London are provided in the following table. The DSG is distributed through a single guaranteed unit of funding per pupil so a split between primary and secondary funding is not available.
	
		
			   DSG plus grants 2006-07  DSG plus grants 2007-08 
			 England 4,240 4,410 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,700 4,980 
			 Barnet 4,730 4,880 
			 Bexley 4,280 4,430 
			 Brent 5,070 5,320 
			 Bromley 4,130 4,290 
			 Camden 6,350 6,560 
			 Croydon 4,410 4,610 
			 Ealing 5,070 5,260 
			 Enfield 4,660 4,820 
			 Greenwich 5,620 5,830 
			 Hackney 6,560 6,720 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,010 6,220 
			 Haringey 5,350 5,560 
			 Harrow 4,550 4,720 
			 Havering 4,220 4,370 
			 Hillingdon 4,550 4,690 
			 Hounslow 4,920 5,080 
			 Islington 6,100 6,370 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6,150 6,280 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,430 4,550 
			 Lambeth 6,070 6,290 
			 Lewisham 5,820 5,990 
			 Merton 4,570 4,720 
			 Newham 5,350 5,580 
			 Redbridge 4,340 4,530 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,320 4,450 
			 Southwark 6,110 6,310 
			 Sutton 4,350 4,510 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,650 6,920 
			 Waltham Forest 4,910 5,070 
			 Wandsworth 5,360 5,590 
			 Westminster 5,730 6,000 
			  Notes: 1. The revenue funding per pupil figures only run to 2005-06 because we cannot provide a consistent time series beyond that year as the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. The 1998-99 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. In 2006-07 funding for schools changed with the introduction of the DSG which is based largely on an authority's previous spending. 2. In addition, DSG has a different coverage to EFS: EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means we have a break in our time series as the two sets of data are not comparable. 3. Price Base: Real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007. 4. This covers funding through the dedicated schools grant, school standards grant, school standards grant (personalisation) and standards fund; it excludes grants not allocated at LEA level. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 6. Figures are in real terms.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average Government spending per child in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in West Chelmsford Parliamentary constituency was in (i) the latest year for which figures are available and (ii) 2001.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for West Chelmsford constituency is not available. The revenue funding figures per pupil for 2001-02 and 2005-06 for Essex local authority are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2001-02  (£)  2005-06  (£) 
			 Primary (pupils aged 3-10) 3,210 3,720 
			 Secondary (pupils aged 11-15) 4,130 4,610 
			 Total (pupils aged 3-19) 3,690 4,190 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: Real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending (EPS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. For those authorities in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004-05, advance grant funding is included in the year of payment (2004-05). There will be a consequential reduction in DfES grant for these LEAs in future years (either 2006-07 and 2007-08 or 2006-07 to 2008-09, depending on the terms on which the advance was given to the LEA). The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 4. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 6. The figures are in real terms 
		
	
	The latest year for which comparable figures are available is 2005-06 and these have been given in the table. The latest revenue per pupil figures available are for 2007-08 and are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with those for 2001-02 and 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 2001-02 and 2005-06 figures are based on Education Formula Spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the schools block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	The per pupil revenue funding figure based on DSG plus grants for 2007-08 for Essex was £4,180.
	The DSG is distributed through a single guaranteed unit of funding per pupil so a split between primary and secondary funding is not available. This figure is for all funded pupils aged 3-15 and is in real terms.
	 Notes:
	1. The revenue funding per pupil figures only run to 2005-06 because we cannot provide a consistent time series beyond that year as the introduction of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. The 1998-99 to 2005-06 figures are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. In 2006-07, funding for schools changed with the introduction of the DSG which is based largely on an authority's previous spending.
	2. In addition, DSG has a different coverage to EPS: EPS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means we have a break in our time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	3. Price Base: Real terms at 2006-07 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 26 September 2007.
	4. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund; it excludes grants not allocated at LEA level.
	5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

School Leaving

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how his Department plans to assess the four building blocks he has set out for raising the participation age.

Jim Knight: In his speech to the Fabian Society on 5 November, my right hon. Friend described four building blocks that must be in place before we can successfully raise the participation age. These are: curriculum and qualifications reform; advice and guidance to help all young people make the right choices; financial support; and employer engagement to provide the right training and apprenticeships. We have set out our plans to implement these reforms and will keep them under review in the run up to the increase in the participation age in 2013.

Schools: Catering

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which  (a) schools and  (b) sixth form colleges have been supplied meat by McLaren Foods in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected by this Department. Local authorities and schools must put in place their own arrangements for procuring ingredients for school food.

Science: Teaching Methods

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to support Wizz Bang multi-media science and technology presentations to encourage the take up of science and related subjects in schools.

Jim Knight: The Government are already doing much to encourage young people to take up science and related subjects in schools. This includes the Science and Engineering Ambassadors scheme whereby practising scientists and engineers go into schools to support teachers and engage and enthuse pupils to continue studying science. We are also in the process of commissioning a programme of careers support and guidance, and a communications campaign both with the aim informing young people more about the varied and exciting opportunities that exist in science in pre and post-16 education and beyond.
	The Government have no plans to support Wizz Bang multi-media science and technology presentations. It is for schools to decide whether they engage with this type of initiative as they are best placed to know the specific needs of their pupils.

Secondary Education

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average Government spending was in the latest period for which figures are available per child in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in each London borough.

Jim Knight: The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. The DSG is distributed through a single guaranteed unit of funding per pupil so a split between primary and secondary funding is not available. The figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-15.
	
		
			   DSG plus grants 2007-08 (£) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5,119 
			 Barnet 5,009 
			 Bexley 4,551 
			 Brent 5,463 
			 Bromley 4,403 
			 Camden 6,733 
			 Croydon 4,738 
			 Ealing 5,403 
			 Enfield 4,951 
			 Greenwich 5,987 
			 Hackney 6,902 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,388 
			 Haringey 5,710 
			 Harrow 4,847 
			 Havering 4,492 
			 Hillingdon 4,815 
			 Hounslow 5,212 
			 Islington 6,547 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6,452 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,676 
			 Lambeth 6,462 
			 Lewisham 6,152 
			 Merton 4,849 
			 Newham 5,726 
			 Redbridge 4,653 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,574 
			 Southwark 6,484 
			 Sutton 4,629 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,107 
			 Waltham Forest 5,206 
			 Wandsworth 5,736 
			 Westminster 6,164 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund; it excludes grants not allocated at LEA level. 2. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 3. The figures are in cash terms.

Secondary Education: School Meals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what means he expects secondary schools to conduct school nutrient analysis.

Kevin Brennan: The School Food Trust (SFT) will shortly publish 'A guide to introducing the Government's food-based and nutrient-based standards for school lunches'. It will be on the SFT website in early December, and hard copies will be distributed to stakeholders including schools, local authorities and catering providers. The guide will explain the standards, give advice on implementing and monitoring them, and explain how to carry out nutrient analysis of school lunch provision.
	The SFT has also published independent reviews of menu planning and nutrient analysis software, giving information on the types of packages available and their costs. The reviews are available on their website at:
	http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/content.asp?Contentid=487
	The School Lunch Grant, paid to local authorities from 2008/09 to 2010/11, can be used to meet the costs of the nutrient and menu checking software needed to ensure that school lunches are meeting the nutrient-based standards, and the expertise to use it.
	The SFT is currently running pilots in 12 secondary schools to provide tested examples of nutrient standard compliant school lunch provision acceptable to secondary school pupils. The results of these pilots will be published next year.

Special Educational Needs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to introduce a fast-track statementing process for children with very high needs.

Jim Knight: There are no plans to specify different timescales for the statementing of children with different levels or types of special educational needs (SEN). A significant part of the statementing process is a thorough assessment of the child's needs, in order to determine the appropriate provision to meet those needs. The Government's response to the July 2006 Education and Skills Select Committee report on SEN announced that Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools will review progress in the current system in 2009-10. We will then consider, in the light of HMCI's advice, whether changes are needed to the current framework.

Specialist Schools Status

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the annual cost of increasing the funding of all maintained secondary schools to at least the level obtained by those schools granted specialist status; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many maintained secondary schools have not yet attained specialist status; how many of these have failed to meet the required minimum standards for specialist school application; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The estimate of the annual cost of increasing the funding of all maintained secondary schools to at least the level obtained by those schools granted specialist status is around £39 million.
	There are 408 maintained secondary schools outside the programme. Since 2003, of those schools, 153 have applied but not met the standard for specialist school status.

Supply Teachers: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of secondary school lessons in Yorkshire and the Humber were taught by a supply teacher in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Training

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) mathematics,  (b) science,  (c) history and  (d) English graduates entered teacher training to qualify as secondary school teachers in each year since 2001-02.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of graduate trainees entering postgraduate initial teacher training (ITT) courses to qualify as a secondary school teacher in the subject for which they hold a first degree, through mainstream ITT and employment-based routes (EBR), between 2002/03 and 2005/06 for:
	 ( a) Mathematics;
	 ( b) Science;
	 ( c) History and
	 ( d) English.
	
		
			  Number of graduates entering postgraduate initial teacher training to qualify as secondary school teachers in the subject for which they hold a first degree 
			   Number of graduates entering initial teacher training courses 
			   2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			  Subject of secondary ITT  Mainstream  EBR  Mainstream  EBR  Mainstream  EBR  Mainstream  EBR 
			 Mathematics 620 100 790 190 810 230 800 250 
			 Science 710 170 780 200 740 40 730 140 
			 History 650 40 530 70 510 100 510 90 
			 English 1,230 260 1,190 310 1,060 480 990 580 
			  Notes: 1. Mainstream includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and OU, but excludes employment-based routes. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. The method of classifying degree subjects changed as a result of the introduction of the JACS coding structure in 2002/03. Data collected prior to this date under the HESA coding system cannot be directly compared using the direct match alone. 4. Performance profiles data is collected at the end of a trainees first year, therefore 2006/07 data is collected in autumn 2007 and will be published in July 2008. 5. The table only covers those who hold a first degree in the subject of their ITT training course, it does not cover those who have a first degree (in Mathematics, Science, History or English) but are entering an ITT course which is in a different subject to their first degree.  Source: TDA's Performance Profiles.

Truancy

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the truancy rate was in  (a) secondary and  (b) primary schools in (i) Uxbridge constituency, (ii) each London borough and (iii) England in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The Department collects data on unauthorised absences from schools, only some of which are truancy.
	The two tables containing the figures for the proportion of half days missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy forms a part) have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established, other absence not authorised by the school and truancy.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Home Information Packs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) domestic energy assessors and  (b) home inspectors she estimates will be required for full implementation of the home information pack (HIP) policy; how this estimate was calculated; and what (i) evidence and (ii) criteria are being used to determine the market impact of HIPs.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 22 November 2007
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement 'Home Information Packs' made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 140-42WS.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of home information pack searches have been undertaken via local authorities.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether information on radon risks  (a) can and  (b) must form part of home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: Information on radon risk is required in the Home Information Pack as part of the local inquiries.

Home Information Packs: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of home information packs on the residential housing market in the Peterborough City Council area; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement 'Home Information Packs' made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 140-42WS.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition she uses of eco-home.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not define or set criteria for an 'eco-home' as such. The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) sets standards for housing.
	The Code is a set of sustainable design principles covering performance of new homes in nine key areas, including energy and CO2 emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health and well-being, management and ecology.
	New homes that are assessed against the Code receive a 1-6 star rating. A 1 star home is built to higher sustainability standards that those set out in building regulations while a 6 star home is a truly sustainable—zero carbon—home. The criteria on how to achieve each star rating is set out in detail in "Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide", available on the Communities and Local Government's website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/thecode
	The Code is based on the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for homes 'EcoHomes', which it replaced for new homes in England from April 2007. The Code is more robust than 'EcoHomes' as it sets minimum standards for Energy/CO2, water, materials, surface water run-off and waste.

Housing: Inspections

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many qualified domestic energy assessors and home inspectors there are in  (a) Eccles constituency,  (b) Greater Manchester and  (c) the North West.

Yvette Cooper: The most recent data as at 5 November provide the following information on the number of accredited home inspectors and domestic energy assessors in Eccles constituency, Greater Manchester and the North West.
	
		
			   Home inspectors  Domestic energy assessors 
			 Eccles — 15 
			 Greater Manchester 37 218 
			 North West 93 595

Housing: Inspections

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) domestic energy assessors and  (b) home information pack inspectors have had to retake their exams in the last 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Inspections

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Government plans to extend the home information pack scheme to one and two bedroomed properties; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement 'Home Information Packs' made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 140-42WS.

Housing: Inspections

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many qualified domestic energy assessors there are in  (a) North West Leicestershire,  (b) Leicestershire and  (c) the East Midlands.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 21 November 2007
	The most recent data as of 15 November provide the following information on the number of accredited domestic energy assessors in North West Leicestershire, Leicestershire and the East Midlands.
	
		
			   Domestic energy assessors 
			 North West Leicestershire 9 
			 Leicestershire 80 
			 East Midlands 421

Housing: Inspections

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of domestic energy assessors required to administer the home information pack scheme in  (a) North West Leicestershire,  (b) Leicestershire and  (c) the East Midlands once the scheme is implemented across the housing market; and how that estimate is calculated.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 21 November 2007
	We set out the criteria for roll out of home information packs (HIPs) to Parliament on 22 May, explaining that we would extend the requirement for HIPs when sufficient energy inspectors were in place nationally and regionally to meet market demand as well as taking into account lessons learnt from the operation of the scheme.
	It was estimated that 303 domestic energy assessors would be required to produce energy performance certificates for the implementation of home information packs for all properties in the East Midlands. This was based on the estimated number of properties marketed for sale in the region and working practices of assessors.

Housing: Inspections

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many qualified home inspectors and domestic energy assessors there are in Bassetlaw; and how many houses were sold in Bassetlaw in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 22 November 2007
	As of 15 November, in total there were six accredited home inspectors and domestic energy assessors in Bassetlaw.
	According to HM Land Registry data there were 2,573 residential property sales in Bassetlaw during 2006.

Housing: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of home information packs on the residential housing market in Leeds West constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement 'Home Information Packs' made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, column 140-42WS.

Housing: Low Incomes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the likely effect on provision of low-cost residential housing in Peterborough constituency of the introduction of home information packs for one and two-bedroomed homes; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement 'Home Information Packs' made on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 140-42WS.

Land

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding has been allocated to support community land trusts in 2007-08; and from what budgets such funding will be drawn.

Iain Wright: The Housing Corporation is working with Salford university to assist with the development of 14 pilot Community Land Trusts, seven in urban areas and seven in rural areas.
	Community Land Trusts were invited to bid for Housing Corporation funds through the Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme 2008 to 2011.

Local Government Finance: Terrorism

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to ensure that the spending of Preventing Violent Extremism programme funding by local authorities is audited.

Parmjit Dhanda: The £6 million Preventing Extremism Pathfinder Fund was paid as part of eligible local authorities' Local Area Agreement grants. Eligible expenditure is audited in line with the terms and conditions set in their grant determination for LAA grant. Performance against outcomes is reviewed by the local authority with partners and the Government office on a six monthly basis.

Planning Permission

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether live/work units are classified as sui generis.

Iain Wright: Live/work units, if they are such that they provide the opportunity for living and working within a single self-contained unit and neither the residential nor the business use is ancillary to the other, would be classified as a sui generis use in the context of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987, as amended.
	Where a single dwelling is used for both living and working, but the primary use remains as a dwelling and the business use is ancillary, this use would fall within the "C3: Dwelling Houses" class of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987, as amended.
	It is for local planning authorities to determine, taking into account individual characteristics, as to which class or otherwise a particular premises belongs.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what safeguards she has put in place to ensure that funding provided to organisations by local authorities under the Preventing Violent Extremism programme is used for the purposes for which the programme is intended.

Parmjit Dhanda: The £6 million Preventing Extremism Pathfinder Fund was paid as part of eligible local authorities' Local Area Agreement grants.
	It is the responsibility of the accountable body of a grant to ensure that expenditure is in line with the terms and conditions of the grant determination.
	For the LAA Grant, expenditure must contribute to achieving or exceeding the outcomes, targets, and indicators, of their LAA. Local authorities work closely with a range of partners in developing programmes to prevent violent extremism, including the police.

Urban Areas: Carbon Emissions

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the Government are going to make available to create eco-towns; and how such funding is going to be distributed.

Yvette Cooper: CSR07 allocated £1.7 billion of targeted funding over the CSR07 period for infrastructure in Growth Areas, the Thames Gateway, New Growth Points and eco-towns, including £300 million to continue the Community Infrastructure Fund. Decisions on the split and distribution of growth funding will be announced in due course.

Urban Areas: Carbon Emissions

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has given to local authorities on eco-town proposals.

Yvette Cooper: In July we published the Housing Green Paper and as part of this the Eco-towns Prospectus. The Prospectus sets out the vision and outline criteria for eco-towns, and how the Government can support projects. In August my officials also wrote to the chief executives of local authorities in the English regions, to stakeholders and other interested parties setting out how we would invite proposals for additional new growth points and eco-towns.

Urban Areas: Sustainable Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms will be put in place to monitor delivery of the exceptional levels of infrastructure and community facility investment announced as part of the eco-towns initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: We indicated in the Ecotowns Prospectus, published alongside the Housing Green Paper that we would expect eco-town proposals to include options for a dedicated delivery body which will plan, oversee and develop (with partners) the major infrastructure needed to establish the town, such as a local trust or local authority partnership or in some instances this could be a body such as a new town development corporation. Further advice on community investment and facilities will be included in the Town and Country Planning Association guide to the practical application of the key sustainability and development criteria for eco-towns which is currently being developed.
	Selected eco-town proposals, which we expect to announce in February, will be invited to produce a programme of development to setting out the delivery and funding requirements of their proposal, and this will include local infrastructure and community investment.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Data Protection

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Football: Schools

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools with (i) a boys' football team and (ii) a girls' football team that meets Football Association standards.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Football Association (FA) advises that there are nearly 5,500 FA charter standard schools. Schools are required to provide football for boys and girls both in the curriculum and out of school hours as part of the qualifying criteria to be an FA charter standard school. Exact numbers of teams in primary and secondary education by gender are not available.
	The 2006-07 school sport survey found that 98 per cent. of primary and secondary schools offered football during the last academic year and that 78 per cent. of primary and secondary schools have a link with a local football club.

Olympic Games 2012

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial information he supplies on a regular basis on the progress of arrangements for hosting the 2012 Olympic games to  (a) Government departments and  (b) Cabinet Committee MISC25; and with what frequency in each case.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 19 November 2007
	I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister for the Olympics.
	 (a) Financial information about costs, funding and projects is shared with relevant Government departments through the appropriate mechanisms including the Funders' Group, the Olympic Projects Review Group, and the Olympic Board Steering Group.
	 (b) ED (OPG) is the Cabinet sub committee responsible for issues relating to Economic Development of the London Olympic and Paralympic games. As is the case with information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and all Cabinet committees, including the number of meetings held and topics discussed, details about ED (OPG) meetings are generally not disclosed.

Radio: Commercial Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many commercial radio licences were granted by Ofcom in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: The number of commercial radio licences awarded by Ofcom in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Licences awarded 
			 2003 11 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 16 
			 2006 15 
			 2007 (1)12 
			 (1) To date

Radio: Commercial Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment his Department has made of the size of the commercial radio sector in the UK.

James Purnell: No such assessment has been made. However, figures published by the independent regulator, Ofcom, show that in 2006, the estimated total of commercial radio revenue was £512 million(1).
	( 1) Source:
	The UK Communications Market 2007, Ofcom, August 2007

Radio: Commercial Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many commercial radio licences have been returned to Ofcom in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: The number of commercial radio licences returned to Ofcom in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Licences returned 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 1 
			 2007 (1)2 
			 (1) To date

Tourism

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate his Department has made of the UK's market share of the international tourism industry in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 5 December 2007
	The most recent available figures for national shares of the world tourism market are for 2006. The UK's percentage markets shares, in terms of both visitor numbers and spending, for the 10 years to 2006 were as follows:
	
		
			   Inbound visitors to UK  (million)  Percentage of world total  Inbound visitor spending  in UK  (£ million)  Percentage of world total 
			 1997 25.5 3.9 12.2 4.4 
			 1998 25.7 3.9 12.7 4.7 
			 1999 25.3 3.7 12.5 4.4 
			 2000 25.2 3.4 12.8 4.0 
			 2001 22.8 3.1 11.3 3.5 
			 2002 24.2 3.2 11.7 3.7 
			 2003 24.7 3.3 11.9 3.7 
			 2004 25.7 3.4 13.1 3.8 
			 2005 30.0 3.5 14.2 3.8 
			 2006 32.2 3.6 15.4 4.0

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units form the UK's commitment to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Des Browne: Only those units which are integral to HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) or under operational command of Commander ARRC on a peace-time basis are actually committed to it. Most UK formations and units on which HQ ARRC might draw for operations are affiliated for training, doctrine development, communication and other purposes, but not permanently assigned to, or commanded by, HQ ARRC. The integral and affiliated HQ ARRC units are listed as follows.
	 Unit  n ame
	 HQ ARRC G roup
	1 (UK) Signals Brigade (includes the ARRC Support Battalion)
	12 (UK) Signals Group
	Postal and Courier Support (99 Postal and Courier Squadron Royal Logistic Corps)
	Operational Intelligence Support Group/UK National Intelligence Cell/12 Military Intelligence Company
	Command and Liaison Flight (12 Fleet Army Air Corps)
	Geographic Section (14 Geographic Squadron Royal Engineers)
	 (B)  Affiliated To HO ARRC
	 ARRC  Combat Support
	1(UK) Artillery Brigade
	16 Air Assault Brigade
	Multinational Engineer Brigade (based on 8 (UK) Force Engineer Brigade)
	Engineer Battalion (2) (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)
	Electronic Warfare Battalion (14 Signal Regt)
	Special Operations Forces
	Joint Helicopter Force
	Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Regiment (Joint CBRN Regiment)
	Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (from 14 Signal Regiment)
	Engineer Works Team
	 Combat Service Support
	Port Regiment (17 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps)
	Movement Control Company Battalion (162 Movement Control Regiment Royal Logistic Corps)
	Transport and Support Group (based on HQ 2 Multinational Logistic Support Group)
	Medical Group (based on 2(UK) Medical Brigade)
	ARRC Multinational Military Police Battalion (based on Royal Military Police Battalion HQ)
	Recovery Company (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)
	 ARRC  Combat Affiliations
	1(UK) Armoured Division (Includes 4 (UK) Mechanised Brigade, 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, 20 (UK) Armoured Brigade)
	3 (UK) Mechanised Division (Includes 1 (UK) Mechanised Brigade, 12 (UK) Mechanised Brigade, 19 (UK) Light Brigade
	 Rear Area Security Force
	Rear Area Security Brigade HQ
	Mechanised Battalions (2) (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)
	Reconnaissance Company (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)
	Artillery Battalion (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)
	Engineer Battalion (Not identified—would be identified through force generation if/when required)

Afghanistan: Roads

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many miles of the Afghanistan Ring road run through the British Area of Operations (AO) in Regional Command South; what assessment he has made of the security of the Ring Road in Britain's AO; what percentage of the Ring Road in Britain's AO is paved; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: A total of 86 miles of the Afghan ring road lies within the British Area of Operations in Helmand Province. The entire road within Helmand is paved. Security along the route is kept under constant review. There have been a small number of isolated attacks carried out on vehicles using the ring road by insurgents and criminal elements, but it remains an effective communication route.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors were taken into account in deciding the production and delivery timetable of  (a) future rapid effects system utility and  (b) reconnaissance vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Our planning work has been and will continue to be driven by operational priorities, taking account of the experience of current operation, and planned future operations. The Department's first priority remains the delivery of the utility vehicle family. After that, the procurement of a successor reconnaissance vehicle is particularly important.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conflict scenario the future rapid effects system has been designed for.

Bob Ainsworth: FRES will provide a rapid intervention capability and will also have wide utility across the spectrum of conflict, supporting three main types of operation:
	Rapid intervention;
	Peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations;
	High intensity war-fighting operations.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Afghanistan

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 953W, on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Afghanistan, what other new protected vehicles are required to make up the total number of Mastiff vehicles to 400.

Des Browne: As I explained in my answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 953W, we plan to procure some 280 Mastiff vehicles. In addition, we are planning to procure over 170 Vector vehicles, bringing the overall total of new protected patrol vehicles to over 400.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Finance

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the allocation of funding is for each future rapid effects system utility vehicle.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Army: Standards

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason there are no Army figures for 1 July 2007 published on the Defence Analytical Services Agency TSP 09.

Derek Twigg: Army personnel figures at 1 July 2007 were not published on 3 September due to ongoing data validation from the new Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system. This is necessary to ensure the statistics are of the quality required of a National Statistics output, and do not mislead the public.
	Figures for the rank structure of the Army at 1 October 2007 were published in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 9: UK Regular Forces Rank Structure, on 3 December 2007. A revised 1 July 2007 version, which will include Army figures, was also be published on 3 December 2007.

Astute Class Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness yard has the capacity to build eight Astute class submarines on time for the programme for building successor submarines to those carrying the nuclear deterrent.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 We are working closely with industry to deliver a sustainable UK submarine programme. The Barrow-in-Furness yard remains the centre of excellence for submarine construction in the UK, however the production capacity at the facility is a matter for BAES.
	In respect of the Successor programme, as was stated in December 2006 in "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" (Cm 6994), it would be our intention to build the new SSBNs in the UK. This will be dependent on proposals from industry that provide the right capability, at the right time and offer value for money.

Astute Class Submarines: Repairs and Maintenance

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of repairing the Astute submarine damaged during routine tests.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 Work is ongoing to identify the full extent of damage. The repair cost will be agreed when the scope of the recovery programme has been determined.

Baha Mousa

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a public apology for the death of Baha Mousa in British custody in Iraq; and what related remedial steps he has taken since the completion of court proceedings on the case.

Des Browne: The death of Mr. Baha Mousa is a matter of deep regret to the Ministry of Defence. I will make a statement in the new year, after taking account of representations from the lawyers representing Mr. Mousa's family about the nature of any further inquiries that would be necessary to ensure relevant lessons are learned. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to make any further comment at this stage.
	In February 2005, the then Chief of the General Staff announced that he had appointed a senior Army officer, Brigadier Aitken, to assess what lessons the Army needed to learn in light of deliberate abuse against Iraqi civilians. My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon), gave an undertaking that the findings of the resulting report would be made public. I expect to announce the publication of those findings in due course.

Balkans Operational Reserve Force

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the state of readiness of NATO's Balkans Operational Reserve Force; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The NATO pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force, currently made up of a battalion from the UK, Germany and Italy, continues to provide the necessary stand-by capability to reinforce both KFOR in Kosovo (in support of the NATO-led Operation Joint Enterprise) and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (in support of the EU-led Operation Althea). The UK continues to work with our EU and NATO partners to deliver peaceful progress in the Balkan region. However, if force commanders judge military reinforcements are required, the UK is prepared to meet its responsibilities as the provider of the highest readiness (four days notice to move) reserve battalion from 1 January 2008.

Defence Estates: Charities

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Land Management Services Budget Manager of Defence Estates Operation South has in reviewing procedures for waiving liability charges for charities holding events on his Department's property.

Derek Twigg: The Land Management Services Budget Manager of Defence Estates Operation South does not have a role in reviewing procedures for waiving liability charges for charities holding events on Ministry of Defence property.

Defence Estates: Charities

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has charged charitable organisations for events held on departmental property in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: European Union

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to discuss a European defence capabilities charter with his EU counterparts.

Des Browne: Our objective is to enhance the separate defence capabilities of European nations, so that Europe can play a more effective role in reducing conflict and reinforcing peace. We are therefore encouraging partners rapidly to develop the more effective, deployable, interoperable and sustainable forces required for current and likely future operations. These capabilities would be available for, and enhance, multilateral crisis interventions, including those delivered through the NATO and the UN.

Departmental Buildings

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated budget is for his Department's headquarters refurbishment project for each of the next 10 years.

Derek Twigg: The estimated budget for the provision of fully serviced office accommodation in the Ministry of Defence's main building and old War Office building is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 94.9 
			 2009-10 93.3 
			 2010-11 93.3 
			 2011-12 95.4 
			 2012-13 96.8 
			 2013-14 98.0 
			 2014-15 98.7 
			 2015-16 98.3 
			 2016-17 100.3 
			 2017-18 107.7 
		
	
	These figures (VAT inclusive) cover the costs for the major redevelopment of the main building, as well as for the ongoing provision of services. The planned closure of the old War Office building will be fully reflected in future budgets.

Departmental Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: MOD is working with other Government Departments on the security implications of climate change. Underpinning this work is climate modelling by the Hadley Centre in the Met Office, a MOD Trading Fund, to predict future climates and assess their defence implications in strategically important regions.
	The implications of climate change will be factored into the Department's acquisition planning and future operating procedures to ensure that the armed forces can continue to perform effectively.
	Climate change will also have consequences for the management of defence in the UK with some low lying sites vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding. Adaptation to climate change has therefore been embedded in the appraisal methodology and tools used on all estate-related plans, programmes, projects and activities.
	The Department is not just preparing to adapt; we also recognise that we have an important role in mitigating climate change. Improvements in energy management and energy efficiency have delivered reductions in estate carbon dioxide emissions. We are on track to meet cross-Government targets for reducing these emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11 and by 30 per cent. by 2020 in line with our commitments under the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate.

Departmental Data Protection

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is  (a) stored and  (b) transported securely.

Derek Twigg: I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

EU Defence Policy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK services personnel wear EU insignia; and where those personnel are based.

Des Browne: Any UK military personnel seconded to the EU Military Staff or deployed on EU military missions may be required to wear EU insignia during the course of their duties.
	18 UK military personnel are currently seconded to the EU Military Staff in Brussels. A further 19 military personnel are currently deployed on EU military missions: 13 in Bosnia Herzegovina; two in Sudan; and four in Paris as part of the proposed ESDP mission to Chad/Central African Republic, two of whom would deploy to Chad/Central African Republic as part of the Force Headquarters.

EU Defence Policy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the Head of the EU Command Element, Naples is; and to whom he reports.

Des Browne: The role of the Head of the EU Command Element in Naples is to work closely with NATO staffs based at the Naples NATO Joint Force Command on co-ordinating and deconflicting EU/NATO military issues in the Balkans, including the availability to the EU of NATO common assets and capabilities in support of the EU-led Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the "Berlin Plus" arrangements. He reports to NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe in the latter's capacity as Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA.

European Fighter Aircraft

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates the lifetime cost of Typhoon will be if the Government  (a) complete the order for Tranche 3 and  (b) cancels Tranche 3.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK has undertaken, through international MOU arrangements, to procure 232 Typhoon aircraft in three tranches. So far, the UK has contracted for the delivery of two tranches, comprising 144 aircraft. Decisions on Tranche 3 will be taken in due course, in conjunction with our partner nations, once we have analysed and considered the relevant information. The estimated cost of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme is commercially sensitive information which is protected in order to maintain our negotiating position for future acquisitions on the Typhoon programme. It is therefore inappropriate to speculate on the lifetime cost for either of the options outlined.

Future Large Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the 25 airlift A400M aircraft is; and whether the order is on a fixed value contract.

Bob Ainsworth: The current forecast cost of the UK A400M programme is £2,629 million. The contract is Fixed Price with the reference price expressed in 1998 Economic Conditions and subject to a Price Revision Formula based on the Eurostat Gross Domestic Product index.

Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions his Department leased helicopters from commercial contractors in each year since 2003; and what the cost was in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of helicopters leased from commercial contractors since 2003 are given in the following table. All costs are exclusive of VAT.
	Total costs in each financial year only have been included. I am withholding information about individual contract value as its release would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.
	
		
			Total  (£ million) 
			 2003-04 FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell 212HP). — 
			
			 2004-05 FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell 212HP).  
			  Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl).  
			  Total 5.3 
			
			 2005-06 FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP).  
			  Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl).  
			  Total 5.3 
			
			 2006-07 FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP).  
			  Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl).  
			  Air crew training. (Bell 212)  
			  British International T/A Veritair Ltd. Logistics support and supply to Falkland Island units (Sikorsky S61N)  
			  Westland Helicopters Ltd. Training and VIP short haul AgustaA109E)  
			  Total 11 
			
			 2007-08 FB Heliservices Ltd. Training task (Bell212HP).  
			  Aviation support to UK interests in the Far East (Bell 212AH Mkl).  
			  Air crew training (Bell 2 12)  
			  British International T/A Veritair Ltd. Logistics support and supply to Falkland Island units (Sikorsky S61N)  
			  Westland Helicopters Ltd. Training and VIP short haul (AgustaA109E)  
			  Total 11

Helicopters

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age is of the oldest  (a) Puma and  (b) Chinook helicopters in operational military service.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The oldest Puma helicopters in operational military service are XW198 and XW199, both having entered service in January 1971; they are 36 years old.
	The oldest Chinook helicopter in operational military service is ZA670, having entered service in September 1980; it is 27 years old.

Hydrographic Office

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the UK Hydrographic Office's budget was spent on  (a) travel expenses and  (b) marketing events and publications in 2006-07.

Derek Twigg: During financial year 2006-07, the percentage of the total gross operating costs, excluding interest, of the UK Hydrographic Office trading fund (i.e. excluding its non-public sector subsidiaries), was:
	2.49 per cent. for travel and subsistence expenses;
	and
	1.26 per cent. on marketing events and publications.
	For the purpose of this reply it has been assumed that publications relate to promotional materials, as opposed to the cost of navigational publications produced by the UK Hydrographic Office for sale.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 21-25, on Iraq, whether service personnel relocated from Iraq to Kuwait will receive the  (a) Operation Telic medal and  (b) operational allowance.

Des Browne: The MOD is at an advanced stage in its arrangements concerning a regional support facility to support UK armed forces in south east Iraq but has yet formally to conclude the negotiation process. On eligibility for the operational allowance, I have nothing further to add to the response I gave to the hon. Gentleman during the defence policy debate on 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 720. The military chain of command is currently considering appropriate arrangements to recognise operational deployments to the region following the planned transfer of security responsibility for Basra to Provincial Iraqi control.

Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) C-17 Globemaster,  (b) C-130K Hercules,  (c) C-130J Hercules,  (d) Tristar and  (e) VC-10 aircraft sorties were flown in support of the 2004 Spearhead Land Element's deployment to Kosovo in March 2004.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The number of sorties flown in support of the 2004 Spearhead Land Element's deployment to Kosovo in March 2004 is as follows:
	
		
			  Aircraft  Number of sorties 
			 C-17 Globemaster 5 
			 C-130K Hercules 15 
			 C-130J Hercules 15 
			 Tristar 1 
			 VC-10 6

Radioactive Materials

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide examples of the nuclear materials for which his Department makes special handling arrangements.

Des Browne: Examples include plutonium 239, uranium enriched in the isotope 235, and any material containing either of these materials.

RFAS IPT Category Management

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has signed with RFAS IPT Category Management since 2003; and what the value was of each.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The Category Management procurement process was introduced into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team in 2004 and the first contract to incorporate this process was placed in 2005. To date, 13 such contracts have been placed, as detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Contract  Value  (£ million) 
			  Financial year 2005-06  
			 RFA Argus 12.0 
			 RFA Wave Ruler 2.9 
			 RFA Oakleaf 4.2 
			 RFA Sir Bedivere 3.6 
			 RFA Gold Rover 8.6 
			 RFA Sir Galahad 2.6 
			   
			  Financial year 2006-07  
			 RFA Sir Bedivere 2.2 
			 RFA Bayleaf 5.0 
			 RFAs Fort George and Orangeleaf 8.0 
			   
			  Financial year 2007-08  
			 RFA Diligence 12.7 
			 RFA Wave Knight 4.7 
			 RFA Black Rover 4.2 
			 RFA Fort Austin 12.0 
			 Total 82.7

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external consultancy costs have been incurred by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team since 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 2005, £1.09 million has been spent on a range of external consultancies for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team. Information prior to 2005 is not available as electronic information management systems do not separately identify external consultancy costs and manual records are no longer available.

Submarines

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many months each Royal Navy attack submarine in service spent  (a) on operations and  (b) in maintenance in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the definitions of operations and maintenance I set out in my letter to the hon. Member on 5 November, the number of months each Royal Navy attack submarine spent on both in each year since 1997 were as follows:
	
		
			   FY 1997-98  FY 1998-99  FY 1999-2000 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Splendid 4 7 4 3 5 2 
			 Spartan 6 3 6 4 0 12 
			 Sovereign 0 12 3 6 6 6 
			 Superb 0 12 3 5 6 6 
			 Sceptre 1 11 0 12 0 12 
			 Trafalgar 8 2 4 6 5 7 
			 Turbulent 1 9 4 6 10 1 
			 Tireless 0 12 0 11 6 5 
			 Torbay 6 4 0 12 11 1 
			 Trenchant 5 6 1 8 0 12 
			 Talent 2 6 3 6 3 8 
			 Triumph 8 2 5 4 4 6 
		
	
	
		
			   FY 2000-01  FY 2001-02  FY 2002-03 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Splendid 3 7 4 8 8 2 
			 Spartan 0 12 0 12 0 11 
			 Sovereign 3 9 0 12 0 11 
			 Superb 3 9 5 5 0 11 
			 Sceptre 0 12 0 11 0 10 
			 Trafalgar 0 9 8 4 2 10 
			 Turbulent 2 10 0 9 11 1 
			 Tireless 2 10 2 8 8 3 
			 Torbay 0 12 0 4 4 4 
			 Trenchant 0 12 0 12 0 12 
			 Talent 0 12 3 6 2 8 
			 Triumph 8 4 7 2 0 8 
		
	
	
		
			   FY 2003-04  FY 2004-05  FY 2005-06 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenance  Op time  Maintenanc e 
			 Splendid 4 8 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Spartan 0 4 4 5 7 2 
			 Sovereign 2 6 1 11 2 6 
			 Superb 0 12 0 12 0 11 
			 Sceptre 1 3 9 2 4 8 
			 Trafalgar 0 12 2 3 6 3 
			 Turbulent 6 2 4 8 5 3 
			 Tireless 6 5 5 5 0 12 
			 Torbay 8 3 0 12 3 4 
			 Trenchant 0 8 5 2 6 4 
			 Talent 0 12 0 12 0 12 
			 Triumph 8 1 0 12 0 12 
		
	
	
		
			   FY 2006-07 
			  Vessel  Op time  Maintenance 
			 Spartan (1)— (1)— 
			 Sovereign (1)— (1)— 
			 Superb 5 6 
			 Sceptre 4 8 
			 Trafalgar 5 7 
			 Turbulent 7 3 
			 Tireless 0 11 
			 Torbay 7 3 
			 Trenchant 0 11 
			 Talent 0 8 
			 Triumph 0 12 
			 (1) Decommissioned 
		
	
	The figures given have been rounded to whole months.
	The tables do not include leave, trials and work-up periods.

Submarines: Finance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to his Department is of extending the out-of-service date of the existing fleet of submarines until the in-service date of the Astute class submarines is reached.

Bob Ainsworth: The out of service dates of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines were adjusted during the Department's 2004 planning round to reflect the planned in-service dates of the Astute class submarines and the decision, announced in the July 2004 White Paper Delivering Security in a Changing World-Future Capabilities (Cmd 6269), to reduce the size of the submarine fleet. As a consequence, some submarines had their service lives extended, and others had theirs reduced. No estimate has been made of whether any associated costs are specifically attributable to adjustments to the out of service date of the existing fleet to meet the in-service dates of the Astute class.

Travel

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on  (a) business and  (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much was spent by his Department on first class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1620W.

Warships

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships are  (a) operational,  (b) in reserve,  (c) available for sale to a foreign navy and  (d) waiting to be scrapped.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy has a total of 75 surface vessels available for operations at various states of readiness ranging from those that are available immediately to those that may require 365 days or more notice to deploy. I am withholding information about the readiness states of most Royal Navy vessels as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces. The exceptions are for those in refit and the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. Three vessels are currently in refit and at Low or Very Low Readiness (typically between 91 and 365 days notice). HMS Invincible is at a lower readiness state than any other RN vessel and although she is capable of being returned to active duty in the Fleet (at about 18 months notice), there are no plans or requirement at this time to do so.
	In addition to the 75 surface vessels available for operations, four vessels are currently available for Government to Government sale; two of these have recently been sold for recycling and three are awaiting sale for recycling.

Work Sharing

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to promote job-sharing among its employees; and how many people in his Department job-share.

Derek Twigg: The total number of job sharers recorded on the MOD human resource management system is 530.
	The vast majority of posts are open to part-time or job share. The MOD also offers flexible working generally to staff (where operational/business constraints permit) as a tool to improve work life balance.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Cabinet Office  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect the Office's responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office is committed to addressing both the causes and consequences of climate change. We will identify priority areas for action in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change, as they affect the Cabinet Office's responsibilities, once the Climate Change Bill and the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change—Adaptation Policy Framework has been published.

Departmental NDPBs

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what non-departmental public bodies have been  (a) established and  (b) abolished since 1 May 1997.

Gillian Merron: Information on all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is published annually by the Cabinet Office. Information covering the period 1997-2006 appears in the Cabinet Office "Public Bodies" publications and can be downloaded from the civil service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Departments are in the process of collating information for 2007 and a summary will be published by the Cabinet Office in due course.

Government Departments: Property

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the average amount of  (a) vacant space and  (b) total area, in square metres, recorded on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS) database for Government Departments and executive agencies for which information was held, in each year since the database was created.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2005-06 the total floor area recorded on e-PIMS was 12,753,581 m(2) and the amount of vacant space was 255,929 m(2).
	In 2006-07 the total floor area recorded on e-PIMS was 13,713,489 m(2) and the amount of vacant space was 340,235 m(2).
	The total area currently recorded on e-PIMS is 13,977,243 m(2) and the amount of vacant space is 496,416 m(2).
	Figures are included from 2005-06 because this is the earliest that comparator data became available. It is estimated that e-PIMS saves the Government £8 million a year.

Information Sharing Vision

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the timetable is for implementation of the proposals in his Department's statement on Information Sharing Vision.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Justice is leading a cross-Government programme to deliver a package of measures over the next three to five years that will enable public sector organisations to share information to improve personalised public services, increase public safety and tackle social exclusion in an environment of openness and respect for citizens' privacy and access rights.
	This work will also take account of the findings of the independent review of the scope of sharing personal information and the protections that apply when personal information is shared in the public and private sectors. Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner and Dr. Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust who jointly head this review will report their findings in the first half of 2008.

Students: Fees and Charges

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to introduce the scheme announced in the 2006 pre-Budget report to reduce tuition fees for students participating in volunteering schemes.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Third Sector commissioned the youth volunteering charity v to conduct research into young people's views on the tuition fees scheme. Following the research findings The Office of the Third Sector and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are considering options for the scheme.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Climate Change

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to help individuals to identify the steps they can take to act on climate change.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA and some other Government Departments run information programmes aimed at helping individuals to understand the link between their own actions and CO2 emissions and how they can take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill, which it is hoped will receive Royal Assent by mid 2008, will provide a strong sustainable framework for adapting to the impacts of climate change. It will require Government to report at least every five years on current and predicted impacts of climate change, and on its proposals and policy for adapting to these.
	DEFRA is also leading on the development of a cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework to be published in the spring. The Framework aims to provide a consistent approach to building adaptation into policies, and a coherent way to identify cross-cutting risks and opportunities and to assist in prioritisation of action across Government.
	In October 2008, the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), will launch the DEFRA-funded UK 21(st) Century Climate Change Scenarios (UKCIP08) programme. This will provide accurate modelling and practical tools to help organisations (like local authorities and businesses) assess and address climate change impacts for the UK up to 2100 at a regional and local level. We will continue to develop the tools and actions to address climate change in the coming decades.
	DEFRA is also considering the impacts of climate change for priority sectors. With the prediction of wetter winters and drier summers, water is on the front line of climate change adaptation. We will be launching a new Water Strategy, early in 2008, which will put adaptation at the heart of policy-making and ensure that water management is fit for the future. The increased flood risk from climate change is also one focus of the separate cross-Government long-term flood management strategy, 'Making Space for Water'. The strategy is encouraging a holistic approach to the management of flood risk, together with increasing awareness and emergency preparedness within communities to help them better cope with flood events when they occur.
	In addition, my Department continues to take a strong lead internationally on climate change. For example, we are working to provide a detailed assessment of potential impacts of climate change in India, and to identify and develop adaptation strategies. The project will look to improve climate change scenarios for India up to 2050 and will assess the impact of climate change nationally on water resources, agriculture and forestry.

Joint Environmental Policy

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to discuss joint environmental policy with his counterparts in the governments of Japan and China.

Hilary Benn: The UK continues to work closely with China and Japan in its ongoing international work programmes. This includes the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue and a number of programmes on climate change. With Japan, we are working closely on a number of environmental issues including, climate change, biodiversity, forestry and resource efficiency.

Carrier Bags

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the practice of retailers giving away single use carrier bags free of charge.

Joan Ruddock: The Government pledged in the Waste Strategy for England 2007 to phase out single use carrier bags issued free at point of sale.
	The Prime Minister signalled his commitment to this goal in his speech to the Foreign Press Association on the 19 November. We are actively working on the best means by which we can achieve this objective.

Fisheries Policy

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last met his counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have met them on several occasions in recent weeks and last month we agreed the UK priorities for the December Fisheries Council, reflecting their respective interests.

Climate Change Meeting: Bali

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policy objectives the Government will pursue at the meeting on international climate change policy at Bali in December.

Hilary Benn: UK objectives for Bali are clear—we need to ensure we launch broad and comprehensive negotiations that include all parties leading—by the end of 2009—to a comprehensive global agreement to tackle climate change.

National Food Security

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy on national food security.

Hilary Benn: Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management, security of our energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources, a strong food chain and infrastructure and the capacity and contingency planning to deal with specific risks to our food supply.

Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation regarding foot and mouth disease and bluetongue disease.

Hilary Benn: Following extensive surveillance work, DEFRA lifted the foot and mouth disease (FMD) restricted zone on Monday 19 November. A Commission decision has allowed the establishment of FMD areas to enable the export of meat and meat products from much of GB.
	There have been 66 confirmed cases of bluetongue since 28 September with the latest case on 3 December. However, the rate of new cases has stowed significantly and they have all been confined to the protection zone in the east and south east of England.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the operation of the nitrate vulnerable zones action programme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: We have recently conducted a comprehensive assessment of the nitrates vulnerable zone action programme, as part of the four-yearly review required by the nitrates directive. Proposals and supporting evidence to revise the current programme, in light of that review, are set out in a DEFRA consultation issued in August 2007; the closing date for comments is 13 December 2007.

Departmental Funding: Small Organisations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of changes to his Department's budget on the funding it provides for small organisations.

Hilary Benn: The Department carefully takes into account the impact of changes to funding provided to all organisations big or small.
	I have not been made aware of any changes to the budget that might have had any particular effect on small organisations. However, as planned, the rural social and community programme will close on 31 March 2008. The programme is a two-year investment to develop the capacity of the rural voluntary and community and parish council sectors, to address important social issues and tackle the causes of rural social exclusion. There are strands of work supported under the programme that we hope to develop beyond March 2008. We will set out our plans in greater detail in the very near future.

Diverse Composition Products

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with manufacturers on minimising products of diverse composition.

Joan Ruddock: Neither I nor my colleagues have had any recent discussions with manufacturers specifically on this issue.
	However, our policies to make producers responsible for their products give businesses incentives to design products that use fewer materials, avoid the use of harmful substances, last longer and are easy to disassemble and recycle.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector.

Phil Woolas: We regularly meet with Department for Transport Ministers to discuss ways that the transport sector can contribute to our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
	The recently published 'Towards a Sustainable Transport System' demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the transport sector plays its full role in tackling climate change.

Flood Sirens: Norfolk

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the future provision of flood sirens in Norfolk.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency provides flood warnings to the public by local radio and directly to individuals by telephone, mobile phone, text messages, emails, pagers and faxes through its Floodline Warnings Direct service. The Agency considers these communication methods more effective than sirens.

Energy Efficiency Direction Orders

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he uses in deciding whether to issue an energy efficiency direction order in response to local authorities failing to meet targets set in the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

Phil Woolas: When considering whether to issue discretionary directions, we would need to consider the balance between this option and those measures identified in the 2006 Climate Change Programme and the Local Government White Paper.

Brazilian Beef

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety of imported Brazilian beef; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I am aware of the concerns being expressed about beef imported from Brazil. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office has carried out a number of inspection visits to Brazil in recent years to look at official controls on foot and mouth disease, production methods and traceability. We will continue to work closely with the Commission to ensure the findings and recommendations from these inspection visits are followed up with appropriate action.

Agriculture: Sewage

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to amend his Department's guidelines on spreading sewage sludge on farmland to prohibit the spreading of sewage sludge on farmland adjoining villages and other centres of population.

Phil Woolas: When carried out in accordance with best practice, spreading sewage sludge to agricultural land can be a sustainable activity which improves the soil and provides nutrients for plant growth. The activity is currently controlled under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, which set standards and application regimes for treated sludge, and require septic tank sludge to be worked into soil as soon as possible after spreading.
	The Government are currently considering whether amendment of the regulations might help to address the concerns of residents in the vicinity of sludge spreading, particularly with regard to septic tank sludge, and whether alternative approaches, such as updating the code of practice for sludge spreading, might be appropriate.

Beaches: EU Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in transposing the revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) into domestic law; and when he expects the provisions of the directive to be fully implemented in the UK.

Phil Woolas: England is currently on target to meet the revised bathing water directive's transposition date of 24 March 2008. The revised directive will be fully implemented in England following the 2015 bathing season, when it is proposed that the first bathing water classifications are made.
	DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government launched a joint public consultation on 12 November 2007 inviting comments on their proposals for the implementation of the revised bathing water directive in England and Wales. The deadline for consultation responses is 4 February 2008. Further details are available on the DEFRA website.
	Comments on the consultation in Wales are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government. Further information on the progress made towards transposing and implementing the directive in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is available from the relevant devolved administration.

Beaches: EU Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of English bathing waters met the standards required by the current Bathing Water Directive in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The percentage of bathing waters in England complying with the mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms for the last five years is:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2002 98.5 
			 2003 98.8 
			 2004 98.3 
			 2005 98.8 
			 2006 99.5 
		
	
	The figure for 2007 is 97.8 per cent.

Beaches: EU Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the capability of the Environment Agency to assess bathing water quality using fewer microbiological indicators as proposed in the revised Bathing Water Directive, 2006/7/EC.

Phil Woolas: The revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD), 2006/7/EC, came into force last year and updates and simplifies the current Bathing Water Directive (cBWD), 76/160/EEC, following developments in scientific and technical knowledge over the last 30 years. As a result of these developments, the rBWD, unlike the cBWD, only requires member states to test for two types of bacteria (intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli) to be monitored as the best indicators of the risk of mild gastrointestinal illness in bathers.
	The Government have formed a Bathing Water Technical Advisory Group comprising of the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service, which will assess the implications of monitoring and analysing the two new microbiological indicators.
	The Environment Agency also has an internal project in place which is overseeing the transfer from monitoring requirements under the cBWD to the rBWD, while maintaining a high level of quality assurance.

Energy Saving Trust: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much was allocated to the Energy Savings Trust in the last Budget; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been allocated to the Energy Savings Trust in each year since it was founded; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA grant funds the Energy Saving Trust year-on-year, supporting the valuable work it undertakes to encourage and promote the sustainable and efficient use of energy. My Department has grant funded the Trust annually as follows(1):
	(1) These figures show the main grant funding and do not include additional money to the Energy Saving Trust for work they do on managing research and other management contracts.
	
		
			   Funding (£ million) 
			 1996-97 25 
			 1997-98 19 
			 1998-99 19 
			 1999-2000 23 
			 2000-01 22 
			 2001-02 22 
			 2002-03 24 
			 2003-04 25 
			 2004-05 28 
			 2005-06 27 
			 2006-07 27 
			 2007-08 29

Floods: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet representatives of Gloucestershire county council to discuss its recent report on flooding in the area.

Phil Woolas: I understand Gloucestershire county council have provided a copy of their report to Sir Michael Pitt, who is leading an independent review of the summer's flooding, on behalf of the Government.

Floods: Gravesham

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on ensuring the safety of new homes built on flood plains in Gravesham.

Phil Woolas: Local planning authorities are responsible for assessing planning applications including any flood risk management issues, taking account of advice from the Environment Agency. The Government issued strengthened policy on development and flood risk in December 2006, and an accompanying practice guide is being developed to provide practical guidance on how to take full account of flood risk at all stages of the planning process.

Fly Tipping: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government has taken to reduce incidents of fly-tipping in the West Midlands.

Joan Ruddock: Tackling fly-tipping and wider waste crime is a priority for the Government. Our Waste Strategy for England, published in May 2007, makes clear that initiatives to boost waste prevention and recycling should be supported by fly-tipping strategies aimed at tackling the illegal dumping of waste.
	The Strategy includes the Government's Illegal Waste Activity Action Plan, which sets out what action is being taken and proposed in this area. This includes:
	(i) Reviewing the controls in place to deal with the management and carriage of waste. The review aims to reduce levels of fly-tipping by making it easier for businesses to understand and comply with the regulations and make them easier for local authorities to use. This is planned for completion at the end of 2008.
	(ii) Developing legislation that will give local authorities and the Environment Agency the powers to stop, search and instantly seize vehicles being used to commit fly-tipping offences. This is planned for completion at the end of 2008.
	(iii) Consulting on proposals to introduce mandatory Site Waste Management Plans for construction and demolition projects above a certain value. This is planned for completion in April 2008.
	(iv) Funding the Environment Agency's targeted campaigns to disseminate good practice to businesses and raise awareness of good waste management practices.
	(v) Delivering Flycapture Enforcement, a training programme aimed at local authority officers and their legal teams to increase knowledge of the relevant legislation and develop skills in effective enforcement and prosecution of fly-tippers.
	(vi) Work with stakeholders to consider how the Flycapture database can be enhanced or improved to help local authorities implement fly-tipping interventions.
	DEFRA has also funded Environmental Campaigns (Encams) to deliver a programme of work on local environmental quality and fly-tipping issues in partnership with Government Offices. This work will support the poorest performing local authorities in each region through a combination of data analysis, best practice sharing and targeted seminars. It will also promote the introduction of fly-tipping targets within local area agreements.
	In addition, DEFRA funded the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science to produce research on fly-tipping—"Fly-tipping: Causes, Incentives and Solutions". This included good practice guidance on crime prevention techniques, including surveillance, and has been distributed to all local authorities in England.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 31 October on the Climate Change Bill.

Phil Woolas: The hon. Member's letter was received in the Department on 5 November 2007 and a reply despatched on 4 December 2007. I will arrange for a further copy to be sent to the hon. Member.

Rodents: Pest Control

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Government funding went into supporting research into the development of new rodenticides in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: In 2002 DEFRA funded a five year research project on rat control strategies costing £400,000. This included some work on use of a new rodenticide. The final report is available on the DEFRA website at:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=VC0330_6599_FRP.doc.

Rodents: Pest Control

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of which areas of the UK support populations of rats that have become resistant to all legally-available rodenticides.

Phil Woolas: A Government funded survey was carried out in the 1990s which looked at resistance to anti-coagulant rodenticides and concluded that rodenticide resistance was becoming a significant problem in many areas.
	On behalf of UK Government, the Health and Safety Executive delivers the regulatory authority role in relation to the use of rodenticide products in the UK. Last year, following agreement by the chairman of the Advisory Committee on pesticides, the HSE gave emergency approval for outdoor use of brodifacoum at one site in Winchester on the basis of an assessment that rats there appeared to be resistant to other treatments. Risks to wildlife (the reason outdoor use is not normally permitted) could be managed since it is a relatively enclosed site.

Total Allowable Catches

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what percentage of the UK's Total Allowable Catch for 2008 he plans to distribute to the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of the UK's Total Allowable Catch for 2008 he has allocated to the 10 metre and under fleet, broken down by  (a) species and  (b) fishery; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The opening quota for the 10 m and under fleet is boosted by Fisheries Administrations acquiring additional quota in-year for their use. Information on the 10 m and under fleet's share of quota at 31 December 2006 is set out in the table. However, focusing on such an analysis can be misleading, as some of the quota stocks included are of little interest to inshore vessels. In addition, many of these vessels catch types of fish, such as crabs and scallops, which are not subject to the constraints on their activity that may be seen when targeting quota species. Figures for landings of quota stocks and non-quota stocks are also included in the table and show that 80 per cent. of all landings by the UK 10 m and under fleet in 2006 were of non-quota stocks.
	Corresponding figures for end-year quota for 2007 are not yet available, as Fisheries Administrations continue to obtain extra allocations of quota wherever possible.
	
		
			  Stocks fished by the UK's 10  m  and under fleet( 1) : 2006 
			  Quota stocks  UK quota as at 31 December  (t onnes)  10 m and under fleet's quota as at 31 December ( t onnes)  Per centage  of UK quota  Landings by the 10 m  and under fleet ( t onnes)  Percentage  of UK quota 
			 Anglers 7 (incl. 8abde) 4,907.1 218.3 4 164.8 3 
			 North Sea Anglers 9,509.0 10.2 0 10.2 0 
			 West of Scotland Anglers 1,818.5 2.4 0 0.5 0 
			 Blue Whiting I-VIII,XII, XIV 80,179.0 0.0 0 0.3 0 
			 Cod 7a 1,027.9 19.1 2 7.8 1 
			 Cod 7b-k 688.9 278.9 40 290.7 42 
			 North Sea Cod 8,356.9 167.4 2 204.8 2 
			 West of Scotland Cod 455.7 11.5 3 0.1 0 
			 North Sea Dabs/Flounders 2,218.0 17.6 1 15.3 1 
			 Haddock 7 1,154.0 35.0 3 24.4 2 
			 North Sea Haddock 39,053.0 69.8 0 34.5 0 
			 West of Scotland Haddock 6,950.7 11.0 0 0.3 0 
			 Hake 6and 7 (incl. 8abde) 3,849.6 30.0 1 2.4 0 
			 North Sea Hake 325.6 1.4 0 1.4 0 
			 Herring 4c/7d 5,246.0 61.0 1 68.9 1 
			 Herring 7a (Manx and Mourne) 4,237.9 0.0 0 0.8 0 
			 Herring 7ef 488.0 151.0 31 87.5 18 
			 North Sea Herring 69,010.9 0.0 0 0.2 0 
			 North Sea Horse Mackerel 3,917.0 0.0 0 0.2 0 
			 West Coast Horse Mackerel 11,101.1 6.0 0 5.9 0 
			 North Sea Lemon Sole/Witches 3,430.8 36.0 1 33.1 1 
			 Deep Sea Ling IV 2,941.8 2.5 0 2.5 0 
			 Deep Sea Ling VI-X, XII, XIV 5,060.3 54.7 1 46.7 1 
			 North Sea Mackerel 414.1 333.0 80 425.3 103 
			 West Coast Mackerel 103,167.9 90.2 0 90.5 0 
			 Megrim 7 2,917.9 42.9 1 13.4 0 
			 West of Scotland Megrim 903.0 5.0 1 0.4 0 
			 Nephrops 7 7,924.7 155.1 2 87.6 1 
			 North Sea Nephrops 24,431.7 1,515.2 6 1,497.7 6 
			 West of Scotland Nephrops 18,504.9 2,262.7 12 1,808.1 10 
			 Plaice 7a 707.0 81.2 11 72.5 10 
			 Plaice 7de 1,643.7 437.5 27 427.7 26 
			 Plaice 7fg 118.9 35.9 30 34.3 29 
			 North Sea Plaice 12,651.2 58.5 0 58.4 0 
			 West of Scotland Plaice 477.0 5.0 1 0.2 0 
			 Pollack 7 2,658.0 306.3 12 271.7 10 
			 West of Scotland Pollack 165.0 5.0 3 0.2 0 
			 Saithe 7 726.0 13.8 2 5.3 1 
			 North Sea Saithe 9,379.0 14.8 0 10.0 0 
			 North Sea Skates and Rays 1,695.0 195.8 12 181.1 11 
			 Sole 7a 225.6 20.2 9 10.7 5 
			 Sole 7d 1,215.0 464.9 38 419.1 34 
			 Sole 7e 566.0 44.2 8 46.2 8 
			 Sole 7fg 274.1 33.0 12 31.4 11 
			 North Sea Sole 1,255.6 257.0 20 235.0 19 
			 West of Scotland Sole 14.0 0.1 1 0.1 1 
			 Sprat 7de 3,226.0 7.8 0 0.5 0 
			 North Sea Sprat 4,944.0 137.8 3 92.3 2 
			 North Sea Spurdog 778.0 8.9 1 6.9 1 
			 North Sea Turbot/Brill 551.0 15.2 3 15.3 3 
			 Whiting 7a 188.9 2.6 1 0.8 0 
			 Whiting 7b-k 2,288.5 162.8 7 102.2 4 
			 North Sea Whiting 11,733.1 312.2 3 337.4 3 
			   
			 Total quota stocks 481,672.5 8,208.5 2 7,285.6 2 
			   
			 Total non-quota stocks n/a n/a n/a 28,600.0 n/a 
			   
			 Total all species n/a n/a n/a 35,885.6 n/a 
			 (1) Excludes vessels which are members of Producer Organisations.

Water Supply

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures Ofwat has put in place to improve the reliability of its consumption and leakage data.

Phil Woolas: Ofwat has led a review of their approach to leakage regulation and target setting. The review looked at variation in per capita consumption, inclusion of externalities in the leakage calculation and alternative approaches to the economic level of leakage. Ofwat expects the findings to lead to improvements at the next price review in 2009.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Drugs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government has made to the call by Antonio Maria Costa, Head of the United Nations Anti Narcotics Unit, for NATO forces to tackle heroin production in Afghanistan; what the UN's policy is on paying poppy growers to  (a) diversify and  (b) cease poppy production; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK is working closely with International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) allies to ensure a fully integrated approach to counter-narcotics that best supports the Afghan Government's National Drugs Control Strategy. ISAF is providing increasing support to the Afghan counter-narcotics effort, which we are encouraging. In the past few months, ISAF has provided support to a number of Afghan law enforcement operations to disrupt drug trafficking and to the Afghan Government's public information campaign to persuade farmers not to plant poppy.
	The UN does not have a policy of paying poppy growers to diversify or to cease poppy production because they judge it would not work, in part due to the risk of encouraging farmers currently farming licit crops to start cultivating poppy. The Department for International Development and the World Bank have been conducting research into possible economic incentives to reduce opium production in Afghanistan. The final report will be released shortly; initial recommendations do not include subsidies or payments to farmers.

Balkans: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the security situation in the Balkans with the Secretary of State for Defence; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I maintain regular contacts with my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary about the security situation in the Balkans. We believe that every effort should be made to resolve issues in the region politically. The UK remains fully committed to safeguarding the region's security and contributes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) deployment in Kosovo, KFOR, and the EU's forces in Bosnia, EUFOR. We continue to work intensively with our EU and NATO partners to deliver peaceful progress towards Euro and Euro-Atlantic integration for the whole Balkan region.

Belarus: Entry Clearances

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider granting a waiver on the collection of biometric data for organised groups of children from Belarus affected by the Chernobyl disaster seeking to visit the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The requirement for visa nationals to provide biometric data as part of the visa application process was introduced under the provisions of The Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) Regulations 2006 that came into force on 4 July 2006. There are very few exemptions or exceptions to this and, of necessity, these are very tightly drawn. We do not, as a matter of policy or law, collect biometric data from children under the age of five years or from certain individuals, Heads of State, for example, but require all other applicants to comply with the requirements of the 2006 Regulation.
	I am aware of the important work undertaken by UK charities to provide respite care for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. We had hoped to collect fingerprints from these children in a separate visa application centre close to their homes thereby avoiding them having to travel to our embassy in Minsk. Unfortunately, despite lengthy negotiations we were unable to secure agreement from the Belarussian authorities. I am however pleased to confirm that we will be introducing a pilot initiative next year to enable our embassy in Minsk to collect the children's biometric data through mobile fingerprinting machines. The embassy will be working with the charities to confirm arrangements for this pilot.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Delivering for the Government's objectives, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has used its overseas network of posts to lobby for an ambitious post-2012 framework under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This includes pressing for ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid dangerous climate change as well as adapting to the effects of climate change which are already unavoidable. Posts will continue to play an active role in building momentum for comprehensive negotiations due to be launched at the UN climate change conference in Bali from 3 to 14 December before a global agreement in Copenhagen by 2009. Posts have also undertaken some activity to help build local capacity on adapting to climate change. The Department for International Development and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs take the lead for adaptation policy and negotiations under the UNFCCC and both will continue providing support to developing countries for adaptation activities.
	The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports show that the impacts of climate change are already being felt. There is a need to act now and over the coming decades, both to deal with the obvious impacts (from reduced water availability to weather-related disasters) and adjust development decisions to deal with the long-term risks (from making low cost policy adjustments to planning for large scale investments in the future). If we do not act now, and over the coming decades, we are likely to see unprecedented reversals in progress on poverty reduction. Making development resilient to climate risk will incur additional costs. Current estimates suggest this may be around US$40 billion a year by 2030—more work is needed to improve our understanding of these costs.

Cyprus

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of UK exports to  (a) the area controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus and  (b) the Turkish-occupied northern region of Cyprus was in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Jim Murphy: The latest data from HM Revenue and Customs state that UK exports to the Republic of Cyprus were valued at £1.02 billion in 2006. Roughly 60 per cent. of these exports were in telecommunications and sound recording apparatus.
	The latest Turkish Cypriot figures for UK exports to northern Cyprus are for 2005. They state that in 2005, northern Cyprus imported US$101 million (£55.5 million at 2005 exchange rates) of goods from the UK. In the same period UK figures for exports to the Republic of Cyprus were £356 million.

Delivery Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office only has one contract for the provision of mail services, this is with DHL Global Forwarding (UK) Limited.

Departmental Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid in consultancy fees by his Department in each year since 1997.

Meg Munn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, gave to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 542-43W and the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) on 13 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 108-09W.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many electronic databases held by his Department contain  (a) names,  (b) addresses,  (c) bank details and  (d) other personal information on members of the general public;
	(2)  when each electronic database held by his Department containing personal information on members of the general public was first created;
	(3)  how many staff have access to electronic databases which contain personal information on members of the general public in his Department, broken down by grade;
	(4)  how many times databases held by his Department containing personal information on members of the general public have been accessed in each month for the last five years;
	(5)  how many requests his Department has received in each year since 1997 from the National Audit Office for access to databases containing personal information on members of the general public;
	(6)  what provisions his Department has in place to ensure that databases containing personal information on members of the general public are not accessed  (a) by unauthorised staff and  (b) for unauthorised purposes.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Eritrea: Emigration

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the effects of emigration from Eritrea on that country; and what discussions he has had with the Eritrean Government on the matter.

Meg Munn: We recognise the general negative economic effects emigration has on the Eritrean economy. Emigration seems highest among Eritrean youth.
	Our embassy in Asmara continues to monitor the situation and has discussed emigration in the context of asylum and returns with the Eritrean Government, but has not discussed the effects of emigration on Eritrea.

Eritrea: Press Freedom

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Eritrean Government on media freedom in Eritrea.

Meg Munn: We monitor the human rights situation, including media freedom, in Eritrea closely.
	There is no free press in Eritrea with no independent local journalists and only two international ones. The detention without charge by the Eritrean Government of journalists is unacceptable and contravenes international human rights agreements to which Eritrea is party. Our ambassador in Asmara raises these issues with the Eritrean Government at every suitable opportunity. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials do likewise with the Eritrean embassy here in the UK.
	We also raise our concerns on human rights through the EU. For example the EU lobbied Eritrea on the sixth anniversary of the detention in September 2001 of the G11, 11 members of the Eritrean political party who protested at the Government's direction in a letter to President Isaias, together with a number of journalists who were also detained at that time.
	We will continue to monitor media freedom in Eritrea including the human rights situation more generally, raising our concerns with the Eritrean Government whenever possible.

Gaza: Frontiers

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the closure of Gaza's borders; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: There is a pressing need to overcome the obstacles to re-opening Gaza's crossings for humanitarian goods, trade and people. The quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) has expressed concern over the continued closure of major crossing points. The UN is actively involved in trying to find a solution. The EU has called
	"on all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza".
	My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement on 30 October expressing our concern at the situation in Gaza. The full text of the statement can be found at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1193597605085&year=2007&month=2007-10-01.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the House on 28 November, following the Annapolis Conference, that we should not lose sight of Gaza, an integral part of a future Palestinian state  Official Report, column 284.

Greece: Embassies

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions the British embassy in Athens has hosted receptions for UK organisations visiting the city in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of how this compares to other UK diplomatic missions; and what funding was allocated to the embassy over this period for this purpose.

Jim Murphy: Our embassy in Athens does not distinguish between receptions for UK organisations visiting the city and other forms of entertainment. Instead, the embassy follows a written policy which requires that entertainment should support the embassy's business plan (based on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's strategic priorities). Other UK missions follow similar practice.
	Since 1 January 2007 the ambassador has hosted 42 meals, 20 receptions and seven seminars or group meetings involving over 4,000 guests.
	To collate a comprehensive list of events hosted from 2004-07 would incur disproportionate cost, as would the work required to assess the funding allocated to the embassy over this period for this purpose.

Human Rights

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the United Nations General Assembly passing resolutions on human rights in individual states or territories.

Meg Munn: The Government consider that the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has a responsibility to address situations of human rights violations in particular countries. We believe that the most effective means of improving such situations is through a co-operative relationship between the UN human rights machinery and the Government of the relevant country. However, where the situation is of serious concern and where the Government in question refuses to co-operate or to make use of the support offered to them by the UN human rights mechanisms, it is entirely appropriate for the UNGA or the UN Human Rights Council to express concern over the situation through a resolution, if necessary without the support of the country concerned. The Government worked very actively with European Union and other partners to secure the recent adoption of resolutions by the UNGA Third Committee on the situations in Iran, Burma, Belarus and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Iranian Government on child executions in Iran.

Kim Howells: We remain deeply concerned by the growing use of capital punishment in Iran, particularly with regard to juvenile executions. Although Iran has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—both of which prohibit the use of the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18—Iran continues to execute more juvenile offenders than any other country in the world. We deplore the fact that there have been at least three juvenile executions so far this year.
	UK, and EU, policy on the death penalty is clear: we oppose it in all circumstances and are committed to taking action on individual cases that fall below international minimum standards, including juvenile cases. The EU presidency, with strong UK support, has raised concerns about juvenile execution cases with the Iranian authorities on at least thirteen occasions this year. We also make representations in bilateral meetings with the Iranians. Most recently, senior officials raised two juvenile execution cases (Soghra Nafj-Pour and Makwan Moloudzadeh) with the Iranian ambassador on 26 October—we have since heard that their cases are being reviewed—and, in a meeting with the Iranian embassy on 23 November, protested the recent execution of Mohammad Reza Tork.

Iran: Negotiations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU High Representative Javier Solana have agreed to a fresh round of talks in December; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: No meeting has been agreed for December. Javier Solana met Saeed Jalili on 30 November in London. He described the meeting as "disappointing". Accordingly, on the basis of the agreement I reached with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28 September, our Political Directors met in Paris on 1 December and agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution to submit to the UN Security Council.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the talks between EU high representative Javier Solana and the Iranian nuclear negotiator towards meeting the mandatory UN requirement that Iran suspends the proliferation-sensitive aspects of its nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Javier Solana met Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on 30 November. Dr. Solana's staff reported to E3+3 Political Directors on 1 December that the meeting was 'disappointing'. Accordingly, in line with the agreement I reached with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28 September, Political Directors agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution to submit to the UN Security Council.

Iran: UN Resolutions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Permanent Five Security Council members and Germany to agree a new Security Council Resolution on Iran is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: E3+3 Political Directors and Foreign Ministers are in regular touch. I agreed with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28 September that we would seek a vote on a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran unless both Mohammed El Baradei and Javier Solana reported a positive outcome from their dealings with the Iranians. Dr. El Baradei reported on 15 November. His report was mixed, but made clear that the International Atomic Energy Agency's visibility of Iran's nuclear programme was "diminishing". Dr. Solana's staff reported to Political Directors on 1 December and said that Solana had found his 30 November meeting with Saeed Jalili "disappointing". Accordingly, Political Directors met in Paris on 1 December and agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution. I will continue to stay in touch with my E3+3 colleagues on the subject.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in  (a) Basra and  (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005; what contact each team has with local people on reconstruction issues; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what contacts his Department's personnel assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in  (a) Basra and  (b) Lashkar Gah have with local people on reconstruction issues; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many of his Department's personnel were assigned to the British provincial reconstruction team in  (a) Basra and  (b) Lashkar Gah in each year since 2005.

Kim Howells: The UK employs a broad range of civilian staff in support of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure environment in both countries. The Basra provincial reconstruction team (PRT) was formally established in April 2006 along with PRTs in other provinces. Since this time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has assigned one permanent member of staff and three consultants on contract to the PRT. Nine local people have been employed as contract staff. The Department for International Development (DFID) has assigned one permanent member of staff and 12 consultants, although no more than seven DFID consultants have provided capacity building support at any one time.
	Over 50 staff have been employed in Afghanistan from across the Government, including the FCO, DFID and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Department Unit.
	Activities covered by the PRT staff in both Iraq and Afghanistan include work in governance, rule of law, reconstruction and economic development. The Lashkar Gah PRT also covers counter narcotics activities. During the period 2006 to 2008, DFID is committing £7 million to quick impact projects in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects. The PRT in Helmand has issued 91 contracts in Lashkar Gah and these are delivered through local business, suppliers and non-governmental organisations.

Iraq: Ex Gratia Payments

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iraqi contracted staff there are who meet the criteria for ex gratia assistance and who work or have worked for the UK Government in Iraq  (a) under the direct authority of the Basra provincial reconstruction team,  (b) for the British civilian police mission or for international contractors engaged by the Government to carry out the police training programme and  (c) for the Department for International Development's (i) Centre of Government, (ii) Ministry of Interior Capacity Building, (iii) Civil Society, (iv) Economic Reform and (v) Infrastructure Services and Governorate Capacity-building Programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: About 90 Iraqis who work or have worked on these programmes meet the criteria, or will meet the criteria when they have completed 12 months service.

Iraq: Oil

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1039-40W, on Iraq: oil, whether he takes into account maximising the revenues for central government in Iraq when urging Iraqi Ministers and officials to consider the benefit of a broad range of contract types.

Kim Howells: We have not taken account of maximising revenues when providing advice to the Government of Iraq. That is a sovereign matter for the Iraqis. UK advice has focused on the need to consider a range of oil contract options, consistent with international best practice, to meet the varied conditions and circumstances in Iraq.

Iraq: Resettlement

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 39-40W, on Iraq: resettlement, how many locally employed staff in Iraq have been made redundant or have had to resign from their job because of what the Government assesses to be exceptional circumstances who had  (a) attained and  (b) not attained 12 months or more continuous service in each year since March 2003.

Kim Howells: The Government have employed many thousands of local staff in Iraq since 2003, many for short periods of time. Before the introduction of the policy set out in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statements of 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 27-28WS and 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30-33WS, information on redundancies and resignations was not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Under the new policy, serving staff who are made redundant, or resign due to what we judge to be exceptional circumstances, can apply for assistance as set out in my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statements of 9 and 30 October 2007, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria. Serving staff are defined as those who were in our employ on or after 8 August 2007, and comprehensive records on redundancies and resignations are therefore held from that date. Since then, two locally engaged staff have resigned due to what we judged to be exceptional circumstances. Both had completed more than twelve months service. 33 have been made redundant.
	Former staff do not need to have been made redundant or resigned in exceptional circumstances in order to qualify for assistance, provided that they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Israel: Frontiers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had with the Israeli Government on the movement of Palestinians across borders.

Kim Howells: The implementation of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access stalled following the election of Hamas in January 2006. We continue to call on both the Israelis and the Palestinians to implement the agreement. We have repeatedly raised our concerns about movement and access with the Government of Israel. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about movement and access on his recent visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories from 17 to 19 November.

Israel: Frontiers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between the British and Israeli Governments on dismantling check points.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned about the movement restrictions in the west bank. Israel has a right to protect its citizens from terrorist attack, but also a duty to ensure the effect of its security measures on the Palestinian population are minimised. We will continue to raise this concern at all levels with the Israeli government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed movement and access issues during his recent visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories from 17 to 19 November.

Israel: Frontiers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between the British and Israeli Governments on the Israeli security wall.

Kim Howells: We regularly raise our concerns about the routing of the barrier with the Israeli Government and will continue to do so. We fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence but the barrier's route should be on or behind the green line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal and is particularly damaging around east Jerusalem where it threatens to divide the west bank in two.
	Our embassy in Tel Aviv continues to raise these concerns.

Overseas Property

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what risk assessment his Department has undertaken in relation to the acquisition of properties by UK citizens in  (a) Northern Cyprus and  (b) illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Jim Murphy: Our high commission in Nicosia recognises that there is a risk in relation to the acquisition of properties by UK nationals in the north of Cyprus. This is reflected in the travel advice for Cyprus given on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website and the answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" that are sent to inquirers on request. This advice is reproduced as follows:
	Property issues are closely linked to the political situation. There are a number of potential practical, financial and legal implications, particularly for those considering buying property in the north. These relate to the non-recognition of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", the suspension of EU law in northern Cyprus, the possible consequences for property of a future settlement, and the many thousands of claims to ownership from people displaced in 1974. There is also a risk that, as a result of the disputed ownership of many of the properties, purchasers could face legal proceedings in the courts of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as attempts to enforce judgments from these courts elsewhere in the EU, including the UK.
	The Government have undertaken no risk assessment in relation to the acquisition of properties by UK citizens in illegal Israeli settlements.

Overseas Property

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions UK citizens have sought advice from his Department in relation to property disputes in  (a) Northern Cyprus and  (b) illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the last five years.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not kept a record of the number of occasions UK citizens have sought advice in relation to property disputes in northern Cyprus over the last five years. The FCO does, however, receive a significant number of inquiries from members of the public relating to property in northern Cyprus. The FCO is not able to directly intervene in private property disputes. However, we continue to warn potential purchasers of the risks of purchasing property in northern Cyprus, both through our online travel advice—available at www.fco.gov.uk—and in response to inquiries from the public. We also advise UK citizens in the travel advice section of our website to seek qualified legal advice from a source that is independent of the seller before purchasing property in Cyprus. Similarly, should a dispute occur as a result of a property transaction, we advise members of the public to seek qualified independent legal advice on their rights and methods of redress.
	We are not aware of any occasions in which UK citizens have sought advice from the FCO on property disputes in Israeli settlements in the last five years. The Government do not advise or encourage individuals, companies or organisations to market or sell property in the settlements.
	We regard all settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as illegal under international law and have repeatedly raised our concerns about settlement activity with the Israeli Government.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Government of Saudi Arabia on human rights in Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the recent official Saudi visit to the United Kingdom.

Kim Howells: Human rights issues were discussed as part of the Two Kingdoms Conference, the last session of which was held at Lancaster House on 29 November 2007.

West Bank: Housing

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the removal of settlements on the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Roadmap is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement activity including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since former Prime Minister Sharon's election in March 2001. Settlement building is contrary to international law and is an obstacle to peace. This has been our consistent position and we will continue to raise this with the Israeli government.

Zimbabwe: EU-Africa Lisbon Summit

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the situation in Zimbabwe will be on the formal agenda of the EU/AU summit in Lisbon.

Meg Munn: We have taken steps to ensure that Zimbabwe will be discussed at the EU-Africa summit. The EU common position stipulates that an exemption to the restrictions on President Mugabe's travel to the EU can only be made if the meeting he attends includes a political dialogue that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. As a consequence Zimbabwe and its appalling human rights situation will be raised.

HEALTH

Disabled: Children

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department will provide to match the £280 million for specialist short breaks for disabled children from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, as stated in the pre-Budget report, comprehensive spending review, Chapter 5.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 14 November 2007
	A decision on the distribution of resources announced in the comprehensive spending review is still to be made.

Health Services: Publicity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he expects the cost of his Department's End Waiting, Change Lives campaign to have been by the end of 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The total anticipated spend to the end of this financial year (end March 2008) is £1,221,861.10.
	The campaign budget for April to December 2008 will be determined as part of the development of the Department's 2008-09 business plan, which is now under way.

Healthcare Commission: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual budget of the  (a) Healthcare Commission and  (b) Commission for Social Care Inspection have been over the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 5 December 2007
	The annual budgets of the Healthcare Commission (HC) and Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) over the last five years are set out as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Department of Health (DH) revenue  DH capital charges  Income  Total budget  DH capital 
			  Healthcare Commission  
			 2003-04(1) 35,000 — — 35,000 — 
			 2004-05 71,694 1,670 3,250 76,614 5,072 
			 2005-06 65,388 2,500 8,134 76,022 3,000 
			 2006-07 71,367 2,800 8,200 82,367 4,000 
			 2007-08 64,379 2,800 7,200 74,379 5,000 
			 (1)( )Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) existed with a budget of £35 million revenue. HC took over some of CHI's functions and was being set up in 2003-04. 
		
	
	
		
			  £000 
			   DH Revenue  DH Capital Charges  Other Income  Total Budget  DH Capital 
			  Commission Social Care Inspectorate  
			 2003-04(1) 94,320 10,752 46,290 151,362 3,000 
			 2004-05 98,005 10,000 44,402 152,407 2,000 
			 2005-06 86,430 14,490 56,755 157,675 6,000 
			 2006-07 80,984 15,840 64,500 161,324 19,978 
			 2007-08 65,371 12,261 58,600 136,232 18,707 
			 (1) CSCI was being set up in 2003-04. Its predecessor organisation was National Care Standards Commission  Notes: 1. Figures for revenue and capital are grant-in-aid issued by the Department of Health and are the start of year figures. Figures for income are derived from the organisations' annual accounts. 2. "Other income" represents income largely from regulatory fees. 3. Figures for CSCI up to 2006-07 include the cost of children's social services functions transferred to Ofsted on 1 April 2007.  Source:  DH

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled for each acute hospital trust in  (a) each of the last 12 months and  (b) each of the previous four years, broken down by specialty.

Ben Bradshaw: Tables showing the number of operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons have been placed in the Library. This information is collected on a quarterly basis and is not broken down by specialty.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many illegal immigrants have been discovered working for his Department and its agencies in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: For the year 1 December 2006 to 30 November 2007 no illegal immigrants have been discovered working for the Department of Health or its agencies. Stringent identity and nationality checks are carried out as part of the recruitment procedures applied by the Department and its agencies, prior to appointment.

Negligence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical negligence cases were closed by the NHS Litigation Authority in the last year for which figures are available; how many of those cases were funded by  (a) legal aid,  (b) conditional fee agreements and  (c) other means; and how many cases in each category of funding resulted in an award of damages or a settlement involving an agreement to pay damages.

Ann Keen: The information requested is in the following table. The information was supplied by the NHS Litigation Authority.
	
		
			  Number of clinical negligence claims closed during 2006-07 
			  Funded by  Number of claims closed 2006-07  Number of claims closed 2006-07 with damages payments 
			 Conditional fee arrangement 1,200 830 
			 Legal services commission 1,883 1,001 
			 Other funding 1,078 667 
			 Unknown funding 2,181 624 
			 Total 6,342 3,122

NHS: Consultants

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes were completed in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) completed in national health services hospitals in England from 2001-02 to 2005-06 inclusive.
	
		
			  Data year  FCEs 
			 2005-06 14,425,259 
			 2004-05 13,707,428 
			 2003-04 13,296,566 
			 2002-03 12,713,296 
			 2001-02 12,338,590 
			  Notes:  FCE An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

NHS: Loans

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 255W, on NHS: loans, how much of the £777.881 million of loans issued to national health service trusts on 22 March was used to finance private finance initiative projects, broken down by individual trusts to which a loan payment was made.

Ben Bradshaw: In 2006-07 the informal and opaque system of cash brokerage and planned support that had previously operated across the national health service, was replaced for NHS trusts by a formal system of loans. The £777.881 million of loans issued to NHS trusts on 22 March 2007 was provided to finance the consequences of historic overspending that had previously been financed informally through the cash brokerage system.

Primary Care Trusts: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what redundancy payments were made during the last reorganisation of primary care trusts in Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not held in the format requested as individual redundancy payments are not available centrally.
	The following table shows the total expenditure by primary care trusts (PCTs) in Hampshire for 2006-07, which is the latest and only year for which this information is available.
	There are two measures of expenditure. The first measure is for 'redundancy'. These costs will, in previous years, have been included within an 'other/miscellaneous' category. They are for redundancy, but it is not known whether all costs included will relate to redundancy following mergers or re-organisation.
	The second (stand-alone) measure is 'PCT reorganisation; redundancies and early retirement'. It is expected that these are costs relating to organisations involved in mid year mergers/reorganisation.
	
		
			  Expenditure by PCTs in Hampshire 2006-07 
			  £000 
			  Primary care trusts  Redundancies  PCT reorganisation: redundancies and early retirements 
			 Hampshire 227 227 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare 631 631 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching 45 0 
			 Southampton City 81 0 
			
			 Total (Hampshire) 984 858 
			  Source: Audited summarisation schedules of PCTs in Hampshire, 2006-07.

Speech Therapy: Northumberland

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech therapist hours per week are available within the NHS in Northumberland.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the requested format. However, the number of full-time equivalent qualified speech and language therapy staff in each national health service organisation in Northumberland is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Organisation  Number 
			 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 0 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 25 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 16 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Strokes: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 on stroke services, broken down by primary care trust.

Ann Keen: Figures were not collected in 2005-06 but the programme budgeting category was further sub-divided in 2006-07 to provide 'cerebrovascular disease' under the circulation problems category. Figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Code  PCT name  Cerebrovascular disease (£000) 
			 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 7,207 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 2,979 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 3,381 
			 5JE Barnsley PCT 2,242 
			 5ET Bassetlaw PCT 1,619 
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 3,348 
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 4,278 
			 5QG Berkshire East PCT 4,310 
			 5QF Berkshire West PCT 3,673 
			 TAK Bexley Care PCT 4,274 
			 5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 5,005 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 2,862 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 1,475 
			 5HQ Bolton PCT 2,902 
			 5QN Bournemouth And Poole PCT 4,723 
			 5NY Bradford and Airedale PCT 6,623 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 4,372 
			 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 3,043 
			 5QJ Bristol PCT 7,769 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT 4,233 
			 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 7,117 
			 5JX Bury PCT 2,560 
			 5J6 Calderdale PCT 0 
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 4,535 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 2,599 
			 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 7,436 
			 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 7,864 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 4,350 
			 5QP Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly PCT 5,641 
			 5ND County Durham PCT 10,173 
			 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 5,060 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT 5,313 
			 5NE Cumbria PCT 13,359 
			 5J9 Darlington PCT 1,931 
			 5N7 Derby City PCT 3,202 
			 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 15,701 
			 5QQ Devon PCT 14,853 
			 5N5 Doncaster PCT 5,113 
			 5QM Dorset PCT 6,389 
			 5PE Dudley PCT 3,760 
			 5HX Ealing PCT 3,642 
			 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 3,980 
			 5NH East Lancashire PCT 10,444 
			 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 5,525 
			 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 4,766 
			 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 11,055 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT 3,471 
			 5KF Gateshead PCT 6,182 
			 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 9,933 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 5,045 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 4,333 
			 5NM Halton and St. Helens PCT 6,613 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 3,091 
			 5QC Hampshire PCT 25,857 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 3,348 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT 2,585 
			 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 1,300 
			 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 3,965 
			 5A4 Havering PCT 3,795 
			 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 2,233 
			 5CN Herefordshire PCT 2,608 
			 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 3,350 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 2,501 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT 4,946 
			 5NX Hull PCT 4,902 
			 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 2,466 
			 5K8 Islington PCT 3,579 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 2,021 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT 2,824 
			 5N2 Kirklees PCT 4,972 
			 5J4 Knowsley PCT 1,756 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 4,140 
			 5N1 Leeds PCT 10,108 
			 5PC Leicester City PCT 5,220 
			 5PA Leicestershire County And Rutland PCT 12,624 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT 3,886 
			 5N9 Lincolnshire PCT 15,124 
			 5NL Liverpool PCT 9,415 
			 5GC Luton PCT 2,466 
			 5NT Manchester PCT 10,506 
			 5L3 Medway PCT 3,127 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 3,343 
			 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 1,813 
			 5D7 Newcastle PCT 2,937 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 8,440 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 18,343 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 5,536 
			 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 2,564 
			 5NF North Lancashire PCT 5,199 
			 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 2,316 
			 5M8 North Somerset PCT 3,858 
			 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 3,186 
			 5E1 North Tees PCT 2,323 
			 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 5,320 
			 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 10,747 
			 5PD Northamptonshire PCT 9,938 
			 TAC Northumberland Care PCT 2,989 
			 5EM Nottingham City PCT 3,812 
			 5N8 Nottinghamshire County PCT 11,129 
			 5J5 Oldham PCT 3,708 
			 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 9,030 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 2,072 
			 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 5,101 
			 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 3,228 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT 3,233 
			 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 1,752 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 1,933 
			 5H8 Rotherham PCT 4,279 
			 5F5 Salford PCT 3,112 
			 5PF Sandwell PCT 3,760 
			 5NJ Sefton PCT 4,914 
			 5N4 Sheffield PCT 8,490 
			 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 5,194 
			 TAM Solihull Care PCT 2,274 
			 5QL Somerset PCT 10,673 
			 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 6,378 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 2,123 
			 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 5,333 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 7,219 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT 4,094 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 5,922 
			 5L1 Southampton City PCT 5,003 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 3,205 
			 5F7 Stockport PCT 4,963 
			 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 5,151 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 11,502 
			 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 5,462 
			 5P5 Surrey PCT 11,912 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 5,342 
			 5K3 Swindon PCT 1,890 
			 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 3,437 
			 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 2,752 
			 TAL Torbay Care PCT 2,625 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 2,908 
			 5NR Trafford PCT 4,306 
			 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 1,759 
			 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 5,258 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 3,721 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 4,064 
			 5J2 Warrington PCT 4,494 
			 5PM Warwickshire PCT 6,144 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 3,175 
			 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 5,591 
			 5P9 West Kent PCT 7,431 
			 5P6 West Sussex PCT 10,892 
			 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 2,776 
			 5LC Westminster PCT 4,067 
			 5QK Wiltshire PCT 9,067 
			 5NK Wirral PCT 5,504 
			 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 4,899 
			 5PL Worcestershire PCT 7,950 
			
			  England total 805,843

HOME DEPARTMENT

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect her departmental responsibilities; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Actions the Home Office will take to adapt to the effects of climate change will be in accordance with the requirements set out in the Government's Climate Change Bill. This will augment a similar assessment carried out for the Home Office in 2003 and will follow any cross-Government adaptation policy framework that sets out Government's overall intentions in relation to adapting to the effects of climate change. It is envisaged that regular adaptation assessments will be made in the mid to long-term.

Human Trafficking

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on implementing the UK action plan on human trafficking.

Vernon Coaker: Many of the actions in the UK Action Plan have been completed or are in the process of implementation. As implementation progresses the Plan will be updated and revised. The Inter Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking meets quarterly to monitor implementation of the Action Plan and updates on progress are also provided to the Ministerial NGO Group on human trafficking.

Human Trafficking

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimated timetable is for full implementation of the UK action plan on human trafficking.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 November 2007
	Each action point in the Action Plan contains an estimated timetable for implementation. The Action Plan is a living document and as implementation progresses the Plan will be updated and revised. The Inter Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking meets quarterly to monitor implementation of the Action Plan and updates on progress are also provided to the Ministerial NGO Group on human trafficking.

Human Trafficking

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcomes of Operation Pentameter  (a) 1 and  (b) 2 were in relation to trafficking.

Vernon Coaker: Pentameter 1 resulted in the rescue of 88 victims (12 of which were children) from 22 different countries (primarily Eastern Europe, China/South-East Asia, Africa or Brazil); 232 people were arrested and 134 charged with a variety of offences.
	Pentameter 2 is still ongoing. Operational results will be released following completion of the operation.

Human Trafficking: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether funding for Operation Pentameter II for the Cambridgeshire constabulary will be available in the financial year 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 3 December 2007
	Police forces receive over £1 billion in grant annually. Human trafficking is core police business and all forces including Cambridgeshire constabulary should now have the capacity to deal with trafficking problems in their area.
	Operation Pentameter II is a time limited operation and is due to be completed early in the 2008-09 financial year.
	Decisions on the timing of further Pentameter operations have yet to be taken.

Immigration

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the oral answer of 15 October 2007,  Official Report, column 548, on inward migration, how many and what percentage of migrants to the UK were  (a) EEA nationals,  (b) non-EEA nationals,  (c) dependents and  (d) students in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question with reference to the Oral Answer of 15th October 2007, Official Report Column 548, on inward migration, how many and what percentage of migrants to the UK were (a) EEA nationals, (b) non-EEA nationals, (c) dependents, and (d) students in each of the last five years.
	The requested figures are presented in the attached tables. Table 1 shows UK immigration for calendar years 2002-2006 separated into EEA and non-EEA nationals. UK nationals have been excluded from the EEA group and are shown separately. Table 2 shows UK immigration 2002-2006 for those 'accompanying or joining a family member' and for those immigrating for 'formal study' shown separately.
	Both sets of figures are based on Total International Migration (TIM). This is the most comprehensive and only official estimate of long-term civilian migration covering both flows to and from the UK.
	
		
			  Total International Migration( 1) : time series, 2002 to 2006— inflows by citizenship, United Kingdom 
			  Thousand 
			   All citizenships  British  Percentage of citizenships  EEA( 2)  Percentage of all citizenships  Non-EEA( 3)  Percentage of all citizenships 
			 2002 513 97 19 61 12 355 69 
			 2003 508 99 20 66 13 342 67 
			 2004 586 88 15 129 22 368 63 
			 2005 563 96 17 151 27 315 56 
			 2006 591 81 14 167 28 342 58 
			 (1) Based mainly on data from the International Passenger Survey. Includes adjustments for (1) those whose intended length of stay changes so that their migrant status changes; (2) asylum seekers and their dependants not identified by the IPS; and (3) flows between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. (2) EEA grouping excludes British citizens. Up to and including 2003, EEA is defined as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the EU15 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Irish Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). From 2004 onwards, the estimates also include the A8 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) plus Malta and Cyprus. British citizens are excluded from all groupings .and shown separately. (3) For 2004 onwards, the Non-EEA grouping excludes Malta and Cyprus plus the eight Central and Eastern European member states that joined the EU in May 2004.  Notes: 1. These are revised data following changes to the methodology for estimating Total International Migration (TIM). This was first introduced in the 2006 mid-year estimates released in August 2007 and in the annual TIM estimates released November 2007. Therefore they may not agree with previous estimates produced by ONS. 2. Figures have been rounded independently and may not add to totals. © Crown copyright 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Total International Migration( 1) : time series 2002 to 2006—inflows by main reason for migration, United Kingdom 
			  Thousand 
			   All reasons  Accompany/  join  Percentage of all reasons  Formal study  Percentage of all reasons  Other reasons( 2)  Percentage of all reasons 
			 2002 513 65 13 122 24 326 64 
			 2003 508 77 15 137 27 295 58 
			 2004 586 102 17 148 25 336 57 
			 2005 563 84 15 139 25 340 60 
			 2006 591 104 18 157 27 330 56 
			 (1) Based mainly on data from the International Passenger Survey. Includes adjustments for (1) those whose intended length of stay changes so that their migrant status changes; (2) asylum seekers and their dependants not identified by the IPS; and (3) flows between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. (2) Other reasons includes work related reasons.  Notes: 1. These data have been revised following changes to the TIM methodology. Therefore they may not agree with estimates that have been published previously. 2. Figures have been rounded independently and may not add to totals. © Crown copyright 2007

Kid's Company

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department provided to the Kid's Company in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	Kid's Company has been in receipt of a Treasury Invest to Save budget since April 2005. The Treasury grant is for three years and ends in March 2008. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has only acted as sponsor body and has not provided the funding. Objectives for the budget (£3,427,000 over three years) are to:
	Secure statutory funding to improve and sustain The Arches drop-in centre for the long term;
	Replicate the model of service delivery used at the Arches;
	Contribute to the policy and institutional framework on a national scale that enables organisations to support the most vulnerable and challenging young people.
	Funding is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 1,480,000 
			 2006-07 1,125,000 
			 2007-08 822,500

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on negotiations to allow Olympic target pistol shooters to train and compete in the UK.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 November 2007
	Agreement has been reached in principle on the use of Ministry of Defence ranges by a small squad of elite pistol shooters. To enable this to take place I propose to use my powers under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. Scottish Ministers have also agreed in principle to exercise their powers in a similar manner in respect of Scotland. As a next step we will be meeting the national governing bodies to establish the final details.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Civil Law

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many civil lawsuits have been brought against his Department and its predecessors based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since the Act came into force.

Bill Rammell: The Department does not collect central records of cases brought against it in which grounds contained in the Human Rights Act 1998 have been relied on and so the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Climate Change: Research

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Natural Environment Research Council's programme quantifying and understanding the earth system in informing the Government's climate change policy.

Ian Pearson: A number of NERC-funded research programmes and collaborations provide scientific evidence that informs the Government's climate change policy. The Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System (QUEST) programme is just one of these; others include the RAPID Climate Change programme, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science.
	NERC council has undertaken an independent mid-term evaluation of the QUEST programme, which will be published shortly. This evaluation concluded that the programme has made good links with stakeholders including central government, and that it is satisfactorily mobilising its preliminary science outputs to inform policy, and increasing the UK's capability to generate policy-relevant science.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) takes the lead within Government for climate change policy and commissions research on climate change in support of policy. It has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the NERC programme quantifying and understanding the earth system in informing the Government's climate change policy, although it does draw on its work programmes.

Departmental Accountancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what departmental budget items have been reclassified, according to the classifications in HM Treasury's Consolidated Budgeting Guidance, as a result of the decisions taken in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review; what the  (a) former and  (b) new (i) classification and (ii) sum budgeted is in each case; and what activity is supported by each item.

David Lammy: There has only been one departmental budget item that has been reclassified, as a result of the decisions taken in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The former classification was programme expenditure; the new classification is administration expenditure, the sum budgeted is £5.2 million and the activity supported is consultancy.

Departmental Assets

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what departmental assets are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value is of each such asset; and what the expected revenue is from each such sale.

David Lammy: The following departmental assets are planned to be sold.
	Subject to parliamentary approval of the Sale of Student Loans Bill, a programme of sale of income-contingent student loans will start in 2008-09. The pre-Budget report, published on 9 October 2007, set out anticipated proceeds from the sales as follows:
	
		
			   Anticipated proceeds (£ billion) 
			 2008-09 3.4 
			 2009-10 1.3 
			 2010-11 1.6 
		
	
	The profile of actual sale proceeds will be dependent on market conditions.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on how many occasions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations;

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department has taken to protect the personal data on members of the public which it holds.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Manpower

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 282W, on departmental manpower, what percentage of the staff of the former Department for Education and Skills was represented by the 536 staff who are working in his Department.

David Lammy: The percentage of the total number of staff from the former Department for Education and Skills represented by the 536 staff transferring to my Department is 16 per cent.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what entertainment or hospitality members of the Department's management board have received in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills in which financial years his Department's outturn for its capital budget at the end of the year was less than planned at the beginning of the year since 2001-02; and what the  (a) value and  (b) reason for the underspend was in each case.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is a new Department, therefore the Department has not had any capital underspends.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on what dates his Department breached its  (a) resource,  (b) near-cash,  (c) administration and  (d) capital budgets since 2001; what the total value of each breach was; and what the reason was for each breach.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is a new Department, therefore the Department has never breached its  (a) resource,  (b) near-cash,  (c) administration,  (d) capital budgets.

Education: Prisoners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which level  (a) 2,  (b) 3 and  (c) 4 courses were completed by prisoners in each institution in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 October 2007,  Official Report, column 363W.

Education: Prisons

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the budget was for education in prisons in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (and its predecessors) took responsibility for offender learning from the start of the 2001-02 financial year.
	The budget for education in prisons since then has been:
	
		
			  Financial year  Budget (£ million) 
			 2001-02 57 
			 2002-03 73 
			 2003-04 116 
			 2004-05 116 
			 2005-06 141 
			 2006-07 146 
			 2007-08 156 
		
	
	These totals include prison libraries, Heads of Learning and Skills, capital and funds passed to the Youth Justice Board for education in young offender institutions.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what plans he has for provision of funding for students studying for an MSc in clinical oncology who have already gained a first degree;
	(2)  what plans he has for provision of funding for post-graduate students who wish to train for a Masters qualification in health care;
	(3)  what plans he has for provision of funding for post-graduate students with a Post Graduate Certificate of Education who wish to gain specialist qualifications to teach children with special educational needs and autism.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 3 December 2007
	We have asked HEFCE to redistribute institutional funding of about £100 million a year by 2010 away from students doing a second qualification at an equivalent or lower level to the one they already hold in order that we can give more of all ages more of an opportunity to participate in higher education for the first time. However, we have asked HEFCE to consult about the best way of implementing these changes, including whether any exceptions should be made for students in particular circumstances. The consultation ends on 7 December after which decisions will be taken about the detailed implementation of the policy.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which universities admitted  (a) more than 90 per cent. of their students from state schools and  (b) more than 20 per cent. of students from low participation backgrounds in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information has been placed in the House Library.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proposals he has to increase the number of students from state-funded schools entering Russell Group universities.

Bill Rammell: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that every young person with the ability and potential to benefit from higher education has the opportunity to do so. Recently published higher education indicators show that in England we are making progress in widening participation for students from state schools, including among some of the most selective institutions such as the Russell Group—overall the proportion of state school entrants has risen by a percentage point between 2004/05 and 2005/06. It is important that individuals are able to access a course and institution that best suits their needs, including stretching and challenging the most talented.
	We will continue to treat this as a priority through, among other things: continuing our support for the national Aimhigher Programme, which seeks to raise young people's aspirations and recognise higher education as a viable and valuable ambition; the role of the Office for Fair Access, which aims to promote and safeguard fair access to higher education for under-represented groups; and the new Gifted and Talented (G and T) Excellence Hubs, which seek to provide additional activities for G and T young people across the country, with particular emphasis on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
	Even the most talented students must be sufficiently well prepared to study and succeed in higher education and that is why we are encouraging universities to extend and strengthen their existing links with schools so that they can help schools raise standards and attainment levels while identifying and nurturing the young students of the future.

Higher Education: Vocational Guidance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of careers guidance at each university.

Bill Rammell: It is for Universities to decide what Careers Service provision they choose to offer in light of their individual circumstances, and the needs of their student body. However, the 'Delivering Quality' report by the National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling (June 2005), found that careers education, information and guidance in higher education showed continued improvement. The majority of Higher Education Careers Advisory Services (HECASs) were accredited against the matrix standard which is a respected quality standard for information, advice and guidance services.

Islam: Higher Education

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which universities in the UK have departments dedicated to Islamic studies.

Bill Rammell: We do not collect information on whether universities have departments dedicated to Islamic studies. Courses in Islamic studies are predominantly provided in departments of theology and middle eastern studies but may also be included in a broad range of humanities and social science disciplines. In his report 'Islam at Universities in England' published earlier this year Dr. Siddiqui listed 19 departments/centres offering teaching and research related to Islam.

Medical Research Council: Human Embryo Experiments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council (MRC) has spent on research using  (a) human embryos,  (b) adult stem cells and  (c) umbilical cord blood in each year since the coming into force of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and how much the MRC plans to spend in each category of research in each of the next three years.

Ian Pearson: The MRC's spend on stem cell research since 2002/03 was as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure (£ million)  Type of stem cell research 
			 2002/03 4.5 Information on the type of stem cells used is not held by MRC before 2004/05. 
			 2003/04 14.5 Information on the type of stem cells used is not held by MRC before 2004/05. 
			 2004/05 14.1 50 per cent. embryonic stem cells and 50 per cent. adult 
			 2005/06 17.4 55 per cent. embryonic stem cells and 45 per cent. adult 
			 2006/07 17.4 — 
			 (1 )Estimate only 
		
	
	Prior to 2002/03, comparable figures are not available. Umbilical cord research is included in the figures for adult stem cell research as separate figures are not available.
	The MRC's estimated expenditure on stem cell research for 2007/08 is anticipated to be broadly similar to current levels. Figures are not available for the next three years but the MRC is developing strategies to increase its spend on stem cell research in line with its recently increased budgetary allocation.

National Textile Conservation Centre

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has for the future of the National Textile Conservation Centre, with particular reference to services formally provided from its Winchester centre.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The future of the centre is a matter for the university of Southampton.

Students: Fees and Charges

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was charged in variable tuition fees in 2006, broken down by  (a) university and  (b) course.

Bill Rammell: Information on the breakdown of variable fees charged by institution and course are not currently available. In 2006, of the 124 higher education institutions planning to charge additional fees for UK and EU full-time undergraduate students, all but eight were planning to charge £3,000. Additional information on the actual level of charges and the extra income generated will be available early next year.

Students: Qualifications

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students in England are studying for a first degree without having at least two A-levels.

Bill Rammell: A-levels are not the only route into HE, nor should they be. Students access HE through a wide variety of progression routes, including Access courses, and other vocational and non-vocational qualifications. Higher education institutions also take account of other factors, for example previous experience and personal qualities, when considering the best candidates for the course in question. Ability to successfully complete a course remains an essential criterion for selecting candidates.
	In 2005/06, there were 188,735 English domiciled entrants to full time first degree courses at UK higher education institutions, who had 'A' level or equivalent qualifications on entry. Of these, 2,400 (1.3 per cent.) had a tariff score of less than 80 (two E grades at 'A' level give a tariff score of 80). Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.

Vocational Education: Finance

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much was spent on Train to Gain brokers in 2006-07; and what percentage of the overall Train to Gain budget this constituted  (a) nationally and  (b) in London;
	(2)  how many Train to Gain brokers in  (a) London and  (b) nationally received funds from Government in 2006-07.

David Lammy: Train to Gain is a new service that has completed its first year of national operation. In this time more than 52,000 employers have engaged with the service resulting in more than 240,000 learners. The total budget for Train to Gain was £288 million of which £25.4 million (8.8 per cent. of the total budget) was allocated to brokerage. This figure included one-off set-up costs associated with the new service. London received £4.66 million for brokerage (which equates to 18.3 per cent. of the overall brokerage budget).
	The LSC contracts with 17 organisations that provide skills brokerage services to employers as part of the wider Train to Gain Service in England. Three of these organisations operate in the London region.

Vocational Training: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) companies and  (b) organisations in Gloucestershire have signed the Skills Pledge.

David Lammy: The Skills Pledge is a voluntary public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant valuable qualifications to at least level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs). If companies or organisations want to go beyond this and extend the commitment to help staff gain wider skills and additional qualifications as well that is welcome. The Skills Pledge is open to all employers in England.
	As at November 2007, the available information indicated that there were nine companies or organisations in Gloucestershire which have signed the Skills Pledge. We do not collect separate information on companies or organisations.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ACP Countries: Economic Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on whether  (a) the European Commission should provide an alternative to an Economic Partnership Agreement at the request of any African, Caribbean or Pacific country and  (b) any alternative offered should provide no worse market access to the EU than is enjoyed under the Cotonou preferences.

Gareth Thomas: It remains the UK position, as set out in 2005, that the European Commission should be ready to provide an alternative to an economic partnership agreement (EPA) at the request of any African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) country and that any alternative offered should provide no worse market access to the EU than is currently enjoyed under Cotonou preferences. We are not aware of any ACP country that has requested a permanent alternative to an EPA.
	There is currently a discussion with the ACP and EU member states on what market access ACP countries should receive for a temporary period, until they sign an EPA, if they have not done so before Cotonou expires on 31 December 2007. It remains the UK's position that we do not wish ACP countries to receive worse market access to the EU on 1 January 2008 than they currently receive under Cotonou preferences.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has helped developing countries prepare for the impacts of climate change through a £20 million contribution to UN funds for developing adaptation strategies and piloting adaptation projects. We have carried out climate risk assessments of our own programmes in China, India, Bangladesh and Kenya. We have also committed £5 million for climate information on Africa and £74 million for climate adaptation research to build knowledge on how best to respond to climate change impacts in developing countries.
	We are also working closely with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other government departments to jointly influence the international negotiations on climate change. This is to ensure that there is agreement in the post-2012 framework on international adaptation: what is needed, who will do what and how it will be financed. We are also working to ensure that adaptation will be sufficiently and effectively financed through the international system post-2012 by analysing needs and possible sources of finance, and developing pilot approaches for financing adaptation in countries susceptible to the effects of climate change.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government is co-operating with its international partners to meet the financial shortfall in the 2007 Humanitarian Action Plan for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gareth Thomas: The 2007 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is costed at US$687 million which includes both emergency and early recovery activities. Donors have contributed US$437 million to the HAP so far. Around US$100 million of these contributions have been made through the DRC Humanitarian Pooled Fund, which provides the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator complete flexibility in targeting funds to meet the most critical humanitarian needs.
	The UK is one of the largest humanitarian donors to the DRC. In 2007 the UK has provided some £35 million for humanitarian projects. This accounts for over 10 per cent. of the needs as expressed in the HAP. £30 million of our 2007 funding has been channelled through the Pooled Fund.
	The establishment of the Pooled Fund has made it easier for other donors to contribute to the HAP and the numbers of donors contributing to the fund increased from six in 2006 to eight in 2007. DFID played a key role in establishing the Pooled Fund and encourages other donors to contribute to it. This is therefore one important way in which DFID has co-operated with its international partners to address the shortfall in humanitarian funding for DRC.
	In addition, as a member of the Good Humanitarian Donor group in the DRC, DFID participates actively with other donors in regularly assessing humanitarian assistance priorities and how shortfalls in funding can be addressed.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the International Finance Facility on immunisation bonds; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) has made impressive progress in its first year of implementation. In November 2006 IFFIm raised $1 billion from the international bond markets. Of the $1 billion raised, approximately $912 million will be disbursed by the end of 2007, through the GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation).
	The GAVI Alliance is currently spending IFFIm funds in 43 of the poorest countries on immunisation activities to tackle vaccine-preventable diseases such as yellow fever, polio, measles, maternal and neonatal tetanus. IFFIm funds are also being spent on strengthening the health systems of these poor countries. Some of the early results achieved by the GAVI Alliance since 2006 through IFFIm's funding have been:
	Immunising more than 100 million children under the age of five against polio.
	Helping poor countries target 26 million women with immunisation against maternal and neonatal tetanus by 2007 and early 2008.
	Yellow fever immunisation activities in 12 West African countries that will strengthen health systems and support vaccine security and affordability to prevent approximately 687,000 deaths between now and 2050.

Economic Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on regional integration of a country signing an economic partnership agreement outside their regional grouping either individually or as a small grouping.

Gareth Thomas: In regions where all countries are not able to sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA), the European Commission will consider agreeing a sub-regional EPA with the countries that are ready and would like to sign. With the deadline only a few weeks away and with some countries wanting to sign an EPA even though the full region is not ready, this is a pragmatic way forward to ensure as many countries as possible can benefit from duty free quota free access into the European Union markets from 1 January 2008. If a sub-regional EPA is signed, other countries in the region should be able to join the EPA as soon as they are ready. The effect on regional integration will vary depending on the extent of existing regional integration in the area and the scope of neighbouring agreements. The UK is considering the impact of these on a case by case basis.

EU External Relations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the recent statement by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU that all parties should agree to pursue trade negotiations within agreed timeframes in outstanding areas.

Gareth Thomas: The UK's 2005 position paper on economic partnership agreements stated that investment, competition and Government procurement should be removed from the negotiations, unless specifically requested by an African, Caribbean or Pacific (ACP) regional negotiating group. The UK has strongly pushed for this with the Commission and among other European Union member states. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council we reached a compromise stating that the ACP should negotiate on these areas within an agreed timeframe. The conclusions do not state that the ACP is obliged to conclude negotiations on these areas.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK aid was given to the Government of Sudan between November 2006 and November 2007.

Gareth Thomas: DFID provided £109.9 million of bilateral aid to Sudan in 2006-07. None of this aid was provided directly to the Sudanese Government and the majority was delivered as humanitarian assistance. Figures for 2007-08 will be available in June 2008. Data are not available on a November to November basis.

Uganda: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what controls he has put in place to ensure that the allocation of £700 million aid to Uganda over the next 10 years is applied to  (a) poverty reduction,  (b) tackling corruption,  (c) strengthening human rights and  (d) other purposes for which it was intended.

Douglas Alexander: DFID signed a Development Partnership Arrangement (DPA) with Uganda on 22 November. This specifies that poverty reduction, tackling corruption and strengthening human rights are the key shared commitments on which our partnership is based. Under the provisions of the DPA there will be annual partnership talks to monitor and assess performance against these commitments.
	The DPA sets aside an indicative allocation of £700 million over the next 10 years which is subject to the partnership commitments being met. In the event of a breach there are a range of provisions which include changing the way DFID delivers its programme as well as the possibility of reducing aid. The specific arrangements for disbursing and monitoring our development assistance will follow the comprehensive guidelines for project and programme management that are set out in DFID's 'Blue Book' of rules, systems and procedures.

UK Search and Rescue Advisory Group

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidelines have been developed by the UK Search and Rescue Advisory Group; and if he will place a copy of those guidelines in the Library.

Shahid Malik: The UK International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (UKISARG) has not developed specific guidelines. However, the Group has established common principles and standards to ensure that the member organisations are able to operate in a consistent, effective, professional and accountable manner. UKISARG member organisations must comply with UKISARG specific standards as well as the "Principles of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response Programmes" and current International Search and Rescue Group (INSARAG) guidelines.
	I am putting a copy of both of these documents in the Library of the House; alternatively they can be found via the following links:
	Principles of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response Programmes:
	http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/conduct/code.asp.
	INSARAG Guidelines:
	http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/FieldCoordinationSupportSection/INSARAG/tabid/1436/Default.aspx

JUSTICE

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice is awaiting the cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework, which will set out our overall intentions in relation to adapting to the effects of climate change. This is expected to be published in the spring of 2008, and is in response to the Climate Change Bill. In the meantime, my Department has developed design guidance for new construction projects to reflect the need to have buildings capable of dealing with the major impacts of climate change in northern and western Europe. Measures are also being taken to achieve carbon reduction targets that will have the additional benefit of mitigating against certain effects of climate change. Finally, the likelihood of rising water levels is also taken into account in planning and acquisition of new sites.

Crime: Victims

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the adequacy of funding of support services for women affected by sexual crime in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Victims Fund was established to provide injections of funding for a wide range of services for victims and witnesses. It was not intended to provide core long-term resources or substitute for local funding. Grant recipients for previous years accepted their award under the agreement that it was for one year only. The resources from the Victims Fund for 2007-08 have already been allocated under the principles of open competition and are not subject to review.
	There has been no reduction of funding from central Government for the specialist sexual violence and childhood abuse sector this year. Out of the £3 million package, £1.25 million has been allocated through the Victims Fund with the remainder used for funding the umbrella organisations, independent sexual violence advisors and sexual assault referral centres.
	Peterborough Rape Crisis applied for a grant from the 2007-08 Victims Fund but was unsuccessful against other bidders. Each application was considered on its own merits and assessed against the published criteria. The Victims Fund received over two hundred applications and a separate assessment of the impact of each unsuccessful bid is not within the scope of the grant scheme. It was also open to the organisation to apply for funding where eligible, under the various other programmes.
	The majority of funding is devolved to local areas and there is extensive work under way to try to improve the stability of local specialist sexual violence and childhood abuse services. This includes having a strong focus on sexual offences in the Making Communities Safer PSA to help influence local priorities.

Crown Dependencies: Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what UK legislation governs immigration from European Union nations to the United Kingdom via the Channel Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: Entry to the Channel Islands is governed by UK immigration legislation extended to the Islands. The Border and Immigration Agency does not operate a border control on passengers arriving from the Channel Islands as this falls within the arrangements set out for the common travel area. The objective of the common travel area (the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland) is that all the territories should be treated as a single unit for the purpose of travel within the area. Passengers arriving in the United Kingdom from the Channel Islands are, therefore, not normally subject to examination by an immigration officer. Passengers arriving from countries outside the common travel area, including other European Union states, are required to show their passports or identity cards, where appropriate, on each arrival.

Crown Dependencies: Legislation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the time taken to promulgate Jersey legislation.

Michael Wills: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) is content that the existing arrangements for the promulgation of Jersey legislation provides for Her Majesty's Government to give effect to its constitutional responsibilities towards the Island. The time taken reflects the process that has to be undertaken which includes consultation with policy holding departments. The process provides the flexibility to process Jersey legislation on an urgent basis where there is a need to do so.
	This process is kept under review.

Crown Dependencies: Legislation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the Department obtains the consent of the Crown Dependencies in circumstances where matters within the United Kingdom have legal implications for them.

Michael Wills: UK legislation does not normally extend to the Crown Dependencies and is not extended to them without their consent. Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man may, however, request that UK legislation is extended to them and this can then be done through an Order in Council.
	Treaties and international agreements are extended to the Crown Dependencies with their consent.

Crown Dependencies: Legislation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review current legislation or administrative practices that directly effect the Crown Dependencies with a view to improving police and criminal judicial co-operation between Crown Dependencies and European Union member states.

Michael Wills: The Crown Dependencies are autonomous self-governing parliamentary democracies with their own legislatures. Legislation and administrative practices that affect Crown Dependencies are a matter for their respective governments. The governments of the UK and the Crown Dependencies routinely consider shared interests and approaches to improving police and criminal judicial co-operation not just between the UK and the Crown Dependencies but with other jurisdictions, including EU member states.

Crown Dependencies: Prerogative Remedies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recourse the Government has had to prerogative powers in respect of  (a) the Channel Islands and  (b) the Isle of Man, in the last 12 months.

Michael Wills: The prerogative powers are used all the time in respect of the Crown Dependencies, most usually in the granting of Royal Assent for insular legislation and in the making of appointments of Crown Officers. In the past 12 months Royal Assent has been given to 56 Laws for the Channel Islands and eight for the Isle of Man. There has been one new appointment which is that of the new Solicitor-General for Jersey which is still under way.

Crown Dependencies: Prisons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what responsibility his Department has with regard to the number of available prison spaces in  (a) the Isle of Man and  (b) the Channel Islands.

Michael Wills: The Crown Dependencies, the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man, are not part of the UK but are self-governing dependencies of the Crown.
	The number of prison spaces in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands is a matter for the authorities in the islands.

Crown Dependencies: Public Appointments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Government has any plans to make new Crown appointments on any of the Channel Islands.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice is currently taking forward the appointment of the new Solicitor-General of Jersey. There are no other new Crown Appointments scheduled for the immediate future. The timing of the appointment of the majority of Crown Officers in the Crown Dependencies is determined by when their Warrants or Letters Patent expire, or by their retirement from office.

Delivery Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services.

Maria Eagle: The following companies are under contract to the Ministry of Justice to provide mail services:
	DX Services Limited
	TNT
	Amtrak Express Parcels Limited

Departmental Aviation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessor spent on  (a) business and  (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible to list the costs spent on  (a) business class and  (b) first class air travel by the Department in the last 12 months as the expenditure is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts and may be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members. The Cabinet Office has recently published the annual list of Cabinet Ministers overseas travel for 2006-07.
	All official travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Civil Service Management Code", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.

Departmental Travel

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his Department and its predecessor on first class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible to list the costs spent on first class train tickets by the Department in the last 12 months as the expenditure is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts and may be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members. All official travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Civil Service Management Code", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.

Governance of Britain Document

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place copies of responses to "The Governance of Britain" document in the Library.

Michael Wills: "The Governance of Britain" Green Paper was not a consultation document. However, a number of consultations concerning specific proposals within the Green Paper have since been published.
	There are three public consultations that are currently continuing 'Managing Protest Around Parliament' (CM 7235); 'War Powers and Treaties: Limiting Executive Powers' (CM 7239); and 'Judicial Appointments' (CM 7210). They will all close on 17 January 2008.
	A consultation on 'Altering the current guidance on flying the Union Flag from UK Government buildings' closed on 9 November and a consultation on the 'Role of the Attorney General' (CM 7192) closed on 30 November.
	Responses to all of these consultations will be published in line with Cabinet Office guidelines and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoners Escape

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners absconded from HM Prison Hollesley Bay in each of the last six years.

Maria Eagle: The number of absconds from HMP Hollesley Bay in each of the last six years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of absconds 
			 2002-03 14 
			 2003-04 36 
			 2004-05 32 
			 2005-06 16 
			 2006-07 21 
			 2007-08 (to end October)(1) 10 
			 (1) Figures recorded for 2007-08 are provisional and subject to change.

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoners Escape

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice of what crimes those prisoners who have absconded from HM Prison Hollesley Bay in the last six years had been convicted.

Maria Eagle: Statistics are not available for the year 2002-03, however the main index offences for those who absconded from Hollesley Bay in each of the last five years up to end September 2007 are as follows:
	
		
			  Crime type  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Arson 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Breach of Licence 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Burglary 8 9 2 8 1 28 
			 Deception 1 0 0 0 1 2 
			 Disorderly conduct 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Drug offences 4 8 6 1 0 19 
			 Handling stolen goods 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Immigration offences 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Manslaughter 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Motoring offences 0 3 4 2 2 11 
			 Offensive weapon 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Robbery 9 5 1 4 5 24 
			 Theft 4 2 0 0 0 6 
			 Threatening behaviour 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Threats to kill 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Violence against the person 4 4 1 2 0 11 
			 Not recorded 3 0 1 0 0 4 
			 Total 36 32 16 21 10 115

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoners Escape

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners who have absconded from HM Prison Hollesley Bay in the last six years remain at large.

Maria Eagle: Statistics are not available for the year 2002-03, however the information held by the establishment of those for whom there is no record of recapture is as follows.
	
		
			   Absconds remaining at large. 
			 2002-03 n/a 
			 2003-04 4 
			 2004-05 5 
			 2005-06 3 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08(1, 2) 2 
			 (1 )To end September. (2) Figures recorded for 2007-08 are provisional and subject to change.

Passports: Fraud

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons were convicted of false passport or false identity document offences in each of the last two years; and of those how many and what percentage have been given custodial sentences.

Maria Eagle: The information requested covering selected offences for the years 2005 and 2006 is provided in the following table.
	The data provided do not cover all prosecutions for possession or production of false identity documents as some defendants found guilty of these offences can be prosecuted under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 or the Theft Acts 1968 and 1978. Data on prosecutions for these offences have not been provided as data on prosecutions brought under these Acts cannot separately identify whether false documents were involved in the crimes committed.
	A percentage cannot be provided due to the method of recording.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty at all courts, sentenced and of those sentenced, the number sentenced to immediate custody for offences related to false passports and related documents, England and Wales 2005 and 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Offence description  Principal statute  Year  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Sentenced  Of which: Immediate custody 
			 Identity Cards Act 2006 With intent knowingly possessing or falsely or improperly obtaining another's ID document 2006 587 437 484 462 
			
			 Identity Cards Act 2006 With intent making, possessing or having under control apparatus or article or material designed or adapted for making false ID cards 2006 8 7 9 9 
			
			 Identity Cards Act 2006 Possessing or controlling a false or improperly obtained ID card or which relates to another or apparatus etc. for making false ID cards 2006 133 81 55 46 
			
			 Immigration Act 1971 S.26A(3)(a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and (5) as added by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 S.148 Registration Card (making, using or attempting to use a false registration card; altering or attempting to use a registration card; making article designed to be used in making false registration card or altering card) 2005 4 3 3 3 
			   2006 12 9 8 5 
			
			 Immigration Act 1971 S.26A (3) (c) and (h) and (6) as added by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 S.148 Registration Card (having false registration card in possession; having article within para. (f) or (g) in possession without reasonable excuse) 2005 5 3 4 2 
			   2006 6 6 6 4 
			
			 Being unable to produce an immigration document at a leave or asylum interview in respect of himself Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 S.2(1 )(9) 2005 473 428 385 378 
			   2006 490 499 533 525 
			
			 Being unable to produce an immigration document at a leave or asylum interview in respect of a dependent child Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 S.2(2)(9) 2005 14 22 32 31 
			   2006 14 14 21 20 
			
			 Non citizen entering UK without leave Immigration Act 1971 section 24 (1) (a) 2005 43 33 24 22 
			   2006 75 63 38 31 
			
			 Having possession or any passport, certificate of entitlement, entry clearance, work permit or other document made under or for the purpose of the Immigration Act 1971 which is known or is reasonably believed to be false Immigration Act 1971 section 26 (1) (d) 2005 9 5 7 5 
			   2006 12 17 16 14 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The found guilty column can exceed the number proceeded against and the number sentenced can exceed both those proceeded against and found guilty when a proceeding took place in a different year to conviction or sentencing, or when a defendant is found guilty for a different offence to the one for which proceedings were originally brought.

Prisoners

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has had discussions with Ofcom on the security implications of the radio broadcast of messages aimed at prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: No. The granting of licences to radio stations, and the conditions of those licences, are matters for Ofcom, though official level contacts may be made in relation to specific broadcasts if concerns are raised.

Prisoners Release

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been released on End of Custody Licence who did not fit the criteria for release.

David Hanson: Between 29 June 2007 and 31 October 2007 11,100 prisoners have been released under End of Custody Licence (ECL). Of this total NOMS has identified six prisoners released who did not meet the eligibility criteria and were therefore released in error. A further two cases have been identified where the prisoners met the eligibility criteria but were released on ECL earlier than they should have been.
	Five of the eight errors were reported in the ECL monthly reports published on the Ministry of Justice website. Three errors were confirmed after the ECL report was published on 30 November 2007. They will be included in the report to be published at the end of December.
	We are committed to ensuring that as few errors occur as possible and we will keep processes under review to minimise these.

Prisoners' Release

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department will  (a) resume work on the review of Prison Service Order 6300 and the arrangements governing Childcare Resettlement Licence and  (b) consult organisations acting on behalf of prisoners on this policy; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: A review of Prison Service Order 6300 Release on Temporary Licence began in the spring of 2007. An internal survey of women's prisons was conducted but further progress, including consultation with external stakeholders, has been halted due to other pressing priorities.
	Work will commence again when resources permit and relevant stakeholders, including organisations acting on behalf of prisoners, will be consulted to ensure the review balances the needs of prisoners and their families as well as public confidence in the administration of justice.

Prisoners: Females

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women in prisons in England and Wales are held  (a) more than 50 miles and  (b) more than 100 miles from the sentencing court.

David Hanson: Distance from court area for sentenced women prisoners is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Distance  Women prisoners( 1) 
			 Up to 50 miles 1,639 
			 50 to 100 miles 830 
			 Over 100 miles 769 
			 (1 )As at 19 September 2007. 
		
	
	159 women prisoners had no recorded court or home address.
	Information on sentencing court addresses is not available for every prisoner and where not available home area addresses have been used as a proxy.

Prisoners: Females

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) certified normal accommodation and  (b) total capacity available to house women prisoners was in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Certified normal accommodation  Operational capacity 
			 1997 2,688 2,772 
			 1998 3,091 3,269 
			 1999 3,240 3,496 
			 2000 3,524 3,763 
			 2001 3,713 3,964 
			 2002 4,493 4,828 
			 2003 4,611 4,924 
			 2004 4,743 5,052 
			 2005 4,996 5,294 
			 2006 4,759 4,996 
			 2007 4,676 4,876 
		
	
	Certified normal accommodation is the uncrowded capacity of the women's prison estate and operational capacity is the total number of places in the women's estate.

Prisoners: Females

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions women prisoners have been held in police or court cells over the last 12 months.

David Hanson: Women prisoners are held in police cells, under Operation Safeguard, only in exceptional circumstances. This has occurred on 21 occasions in the last 12 months (an occasion equates to one prisoner on one night).
	Prisoners are also sometimes held overnight in police cells as "lockouts". A lockout is an operational measure normally only used when the designated prison's reception will be closed before the prisoner's arrival time. Women prisoners have been held in police cells as "lockouts" on 33 occasions in the last 12 months.
	No women prisoners have to date been held in court cells.

Prisoners: Mental Health

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prisons and  (b) young offenders' institutions receive funding for community mental health and reach teams to provide services for prisoners with severe mental health problems.

Maria Eagle: Since April 2006, commissioning responsibility for prison health services has been fully devolved to the national health service.
	Funding for health services, including mental health in-reach, is therefore allocated to those primary care trusts which contain prisons in their areas.
	In total, 102 mental health in-reach teams operate within prisons, including young offenders institutions, and their services are available across the entire prison estate. Since 2005-06, £20 million has been invested in these services each year.

Prisons: Finance

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice from what budget the funding for  (a) the 8,000 new prison places announced by the previous Secretary of State for the Home Department and  (b) the 1,500 new prison places announced by the previous Lord Chancellor will be drawn.

David Hanson: The new prison places will be funded from the capital and resource budgets (as appropriate) of the National Offender Management Service, within the Ministry of Justice overall allocations. The 8,000 places are due to be delivered by 2012 and as such some of the funding falls after the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07) period. 500 of the 1,500 places fall within the CSR07 period. The optimum timing and composition of the further 1,000 places will be considered in the light of the Carter report.

Prisons: Mother and Baby Units

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women were not allocated places in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales due to  (a) lack of space and  (b) other reasons in each year for which data is available.

David Hanson: From 1 December 2006 (the earliest date for which information is available) until 30 November 2007 no women were refused a place due to lack of space. The criteria for admission to a mother and baby unit focus on the best interests of the child. 29 applications for places were refused during the period because the criteria were not met.

Prisons: Mother and Baby Units

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many places there are in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The current national capacity is 75 places (including the nine places that will become available once the temporarily closed unit at HMP/YOI New Hall re-opens).

Prisons: Television

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the  (a) licence,  (b) equipment and  (c) running costs of personal televisions in prisoner cells are met; by whom; how the costs arising from digital switchover will be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The equipment and running costs (excluding electricity) of prisoners' in-cell television is met from the weekly charge levied on prisoners for the rental of a television from the Prison Service.
	The switchover of the prison estate in readiness for the switch from analogue to digital television began in 2005 and is expected to be completed in 2012. It is intended that the cost of digital switchover in the prison estate will be met primarily from the revenue generated by the weekly charge levied on prisoners for the rental of televisions from the Prison Service.
	Television licences are not required because of Crown exemption.

Speed Limits: Cameras

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of speed cameras found to be operating illegally in each of the last 10 years; and how many fines, and of what amount, were issued through the use of these illegal cameras.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The operation of speed cameras is an operational matter for the police and any challenge to their operation in a particular case would be for the courts. Information on fines imposed for offences detected by camera does not include details of the cameras involved in individual cases.

Youth Justice Board: Finance

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will provide additional funding for the Youth Justice Board to increase the staff complement at Gladstone House Young Offender Institution.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg) on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1104W.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Christmas

Philip Hammond: To ask the Leader of the House how much her Office has spent on Christmas  (a) cards,  (b) parties and  (c) decorations in each of the last five years.

Helen Goodman: As a result of the machinery of government change in transferring the Leader of the House office from the Privy Council office to the Cabinet Office, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Allowances

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 538W, on Members: allowances, what is the maximum amount in cash terms in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 that may be spent on communication allowance expenditure, assuming the maximum amount is transferred from staffing allowance and incidental expenses provision;
	(2)  how much was allocated for 2007-08 to the communications allowance;
	(3)  what the aggregate expenditure on allowances for hon. Members was in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: The information is as follows:
	1. I refer the hon. Member to the rules in the Green Book which allow Members some flexibilities to transfer money between allowances to meet the needs of their parliamentary and constituency work. The amounts available for parliamentary allowances for 2008-09 are not yet available.
	2. Parliamentary allowances expenditure is limited only to the extent of the maximum rate payable for each allowance. Each Member has access to the communications allowance set at £10,000 in 2007-08, which means a maximum possible spend across all members of £6.46 million in the year.
	3. The combined expenditure for Members' allowances (excluding travel costs and auxiliary expenditure) reported in the House of Commons Members Resource Accounts for 2006-07 (HC832) was £77.8 million. In 1996-97 the figure was £36.8 million. The allowance system changed significantly in July 2001 on the recommendation of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) when new allowances were introduced.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department's corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines.

Shaun Woodward: A copy of the Northern Ireland Office, corporate identity guidelines for staff has been placed in the Library. Over and above the initial cost of £44,725 there are no annual costs associated with producing or complying with the guidelines.

Elderly: Abuse

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many elderly persons were assaulted in their homes in each year since 1998 in Northern Ireland; and how many persons were  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of such assaults in each year.

Paul Goggins: The number of elderly persons assaulted in their homes in Northern Ireland for each year since 2002 is set out in the following table.
	The table also sets out the number of non sanction clearances, in which no further action was taken by the police, and the number of offences cleared by means of a charge or summons.
	As the exact location of assault and age of victim was not recorded prior to 2002 I am not able to supply figures from 1998 to 2002.
	Figures for convictions do not record details of victims. Therefore it is not possible to supply information on the number of convictions for such assaults in each year.
	
		
			   Recorded  Non sanction clearances  Cleared by means of charge/summons 
			 2002-03 111 81 13 
			 2003-04 158 130 14 
			 2004-05 161 101 10 
			 2005-06 167 122 20 
			 2006-07 179 62 28 
		
	
	Fear of crime, particularly among older people, vulnerable people, victims and children is one of the nine key issues of the Northern Ireland Community Safety strategy. One of the proposed actions flowing from this theme was to produce a draft strategy for the safety of older people. The Community Safety Unit (CSU) launched the document 'Proposals for the Safety of Older People' for consultation on 14 June 2007 and responses are currently being evaluated.

Irish language

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions his Department has had with Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive on an Irish Language Act; and how the Government propose to meet their undertaking to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

Paul Goggins: My Department has had no discussions on an Irish Language Act with Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Section 15 of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 places a duty on the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The Government stand ready to support the Executive's efforts in implementing this strategy, once it has been developed.

Prisoners Release

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland prisoners were released under the end of custody licence scheme in each month since its introduction.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not operate an end of custody licence (ECL) scheme in Northern Ireland. While prisoners transferred from Northern Ireland to serve their sentences in England and Wales may be released on ECL if they meet the eligibility criteria, I understand that none have since its introduction earlier this year.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of prisoners in Northern Ireland are foreign nationals, broken down by nationality.

Paul Goggins: As of 3 December 2007, the total prisoner population in Northern Ireland prisons was 1,467. Of these 71 were foreign national prisoners which equates to 4.8 per cent.
	The following table provides a breakdown of all foreign national prisoners by nationality.
	
		
			  Nationality  Number 
			 Lithuanian 11 
			 Polish 9 
			 Chinese 5 
			 Nigerian 5 
			 Portuguese 6 
			 Romanian 4 
			 Brazilian 3 
			 Canadian 1 
			 German 2 
			 Latvian 3 
			 Liberian 2 
			 South African 2 
			 Zimbabwean 2 
			 Algerian 1 
			 American 1 
			 Argentinean 1 
			 Australian 1 
			 Belgian 1 
			 Danish 2 
			 Dutch 1 
			 French 1 
			 Ghanaian 1 
			 Moroccan 1 
			 Rwandan 1 
			 Sierra Leonean 1 
			 Slovakian 1 
			 Slovenian 1 
			 Ugandan 1

Prisons: Education

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional educational  (a) facilities and  (b) resources are to be made available in Northern Ireland prisons on the introduction of provisions on dangerousness and dangerous offenders.

Paul Goggins: The proposals contained within the draft Criminal Justice Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 introduce new sentencing options for dangerous violent and sexual offenders; these offenders will only be released when the independent Parole Commissioners consider it is safe to do so. A strategic joint steering group has been established to focus specifically on offender behavioural programmes for high risk offenders in relation to public protection and resettlement. In addition to existing expenditure in this area, we plan to invest a further £4.7million over the next three financial years to implement the strategy. This will include investment in education and psychology services to recruit and train new staff to undertake risk assessments, provide programmes and work directly with dangerous offenders to reduce their risk, and to put the necessary structures in place to manage the process.

Prisons: Education

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on prisoner education at each facility in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The expenditure by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to provide education in each of the last full five financial years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Maghaberry  Magilligan  Hydebank  Wood YOC 
			 2002-03 668 257 237 
			 2003-04 655 275 251 
			 2004-05 728 314 313 
			 2005-06 850 310 285 
			 2006-07 943 382 401 
		
	
	In addition to the above expenditure, some courses have been funded by the Department of Education and Learning at HMP Magilligan, and provided by local colleges. The cost of these courses has not been charged to the Prison Service.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Staff

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of posts in his Department have been recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not categorise staff as back office or frontline; staff numbers are shown in the office's annual report, a copy of which is in the House Library.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department's corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not have a corporate identity policy and therefore guidelines have not been produced.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the primary sources are of bio-fuels; and what percentage of fuels was sourced from each in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Biofuels are currently produced from a wide range of sources, including rapeseed oil, palm oil, soya oil, wheat, sugar beet, and sugar cane. In the longer term there is the potential that biofuels may be produced from other crops and other forms of biomass, including agricultural and forestry residues and the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste. The Department does not have a detailed breakdown of the percentage of UK biofuels that come from these different sources.
	Once the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) comes into effect in April 2008, transport fuel suppliers will be required to report on matters such as the feedstock from which their biofuels were produced and its country of origin. The Renewable Fuels Agency will be required to report regularly to Parliament on these matters.

Bus Services: Concessions

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to abolish the Bus Service Operators Grant; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 December 2007
	As stated in our bus policy document "Putting Passengers First" published last December we are considering with stakeholders whether changes to bus subsidies, including Bus Service Operators Grant, would increase their contribution to our objectives on the environment, congestion and accessibility. This work is ongoing and no decisions have yet been taken. We hope to make announcements on any changes next spring.

Cars

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of London households which are expected to buy a new car in the next 10 years, broken down by socio-economic group.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's National Car Ownership Model produces forecasts of household car ownership. This does not provide a breakdown by traditional socio-economic grouping.
	The model does not forecast the purchasing of new cars by households explicitly, but does provide changes in car stock and households by the number of cars owned.
	The expected change in the number of households in Greater London by car ownership and total car stock from 2007-17 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 0 car households 49,136 +4 
			 1 car households 214,807 +15 
			 2 car households 71,668 +14 
			 3+ car households 32,607 +26 
			 Total households 368,218 +12 
			 Total cars 462,485 +16

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect her Departmental responsibilities; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport (DfT) has contributed to the Climate Change Bill, recently introduced into Parliament, and the cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework (APF), which is expected to be published in spring 2008.
	The Climate Change Bill will set out a requirement for the Government to produce the first UK risk assessment on climate change within three years. Following this, the Government will update the risk report and programme on a five-yearly basis, with one informing the other.
	The Adaptation Policy Framework will set out Government's overall intentions in relation to adapting to the effects of climate change. Following the APF, the Government's adaptation action plan will be published, which will include specific adaptation targets. As part of the APF, the DFT are developing a Transport Adaptation Strategy, which will offer strategic guidance to DFT stakeholders in terms of risk analysis and management.
	In response to the Government's 2003 White Paper "The Future of Air Transport", UK airport operators have produced comprehensive master plans that rigorously evaluate the impacts of future airport development proposals, including the impacts of air travel on climate change.
	As well as funding industry research into climate adaptation through the Rail Safety and Standards Board, the DFT has established a cross-rail industry forum to identify the challenges that climate change poses to the railway.
	The DFT confirmed in the recent rail White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" (July 2007) that the specification of future rolling stock, starting with the Intercity Express train, will require suppliers to take account of climate adaptation issues in their designs. Network Rail is already designing increased resilience into its renewals work.
	The Department has recently completed some research on behalf of the UK Roads Board on adapting materials and techniques in highway works to the changing climate. This will be published as a guide for local authority highway engineers.
	The Highways Agency (HA) will deliver a strategy report on climate change adaptation by the end of March 2008, detailing how it can continue to provide a robust network in light of predicted UK climate change effects. The HA has already written two reports in conjunction with the Met Office, cross-referencing the weather-related parameters contained in their standards, specifications and operating procedures against predicted future UK climate change.

Cycling: Children

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she is considering introducing measures to encourage cycling by children.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is already actively encouraging children to cycle.
	We have spent £16.2 million over the last two and a half years on providing safe routes from residential areas to over 500 schools and have provided funding for the 'Bike IT' scheme which works with schools to increase the number of young people cycling.
	We have launched Bikeability—the new training scheme which gives children (and adults) the skills and confidence to deal with current traffic conditions and are investing £1.67 million in training approx 47,000 year 6 children to Bikeability level 2 this year. This is in addition to the investment in cycle training local authorities are already making. And more funding will be available next year.
	Many of the improvements local authorities are making to local cycling infrastructure and cycle networks can also encourage young people to cycle. One of the cycle demonstration towns we are funding, Derby, has a specific focus on targeting improvements to encourage those under 25 to cycle.

Delivery Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies are under contract to her Department to provide mail services.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Mail services are provided to the Department for Transport by Royal Mail, City Link Post, TNT Post UK Ltd. and DHL Global Mail (UK) Ltd.

Design

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are tasked with assisting the ministerial design champion in his duties as such, broken down by grade.

Tom Harris: Aesthetic considerations for Highways Agency structures and heritage issues are embedded within the project design procedures. Currently no members of the Highways Agency are dedicated to supporting my duties as the ministerial design champion, although a pay band eight structures engineer is the focal point for structural design aesthetics and a pay band seven environmentalist is the focal point for heritage issues.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Complaints

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many customer complaints the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency received in the last 12 months, broken down by type of complaint received.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) manages more than 40 million driver and 32 million vehicle records. In financial year 2006-07 DVLA received a total of 6,668 complaint cases.
	This can be broken down into:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Drivers Complaints 958 
			 Vehicles Complaints 4671 
			 General Complaints 1,039

Electric Vehicles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to encourage local authorities and businesses to install charging points for electric vehicles.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her strategy is for encouraging  (a) local authorities and  (b) businesses to develop a comprehensive infrastructure network of charging points for electric vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport provides grants through the Energy Saving Trust to local authorities and businesses in England for up to 50 per cent. of the cost of installation of electric vehicle charging points which are for public use.

Euston Station

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will require Network Rail to make arrangements to help commuters with luggage, the elderly and disabled to access the underground from the concourse of Euston station while the escalators are being refurbished; if she will assess the compliance of the works with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005; whether her Department was consulted over the works; if she will take steps to monitor the compliance of future works by Network Rail with the DDA; and if she will make it her policy to require Network Rail to  (a) provide and  (b) advertise assistance to vulnerable groups when such works take place.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. I understand, however, that they are working with London Underground to ensure that passengers are re-directed to the most appropriate alternative route until the works are completed at the end of this month.
	Any work carried out at stations must comply with the standards in "Train and Station Services for Disabled People: A Code of Practice (2002)". The Department would only expect to be consulted if proposed works did not meet these standards. Network Rail also has a duty under part 3 of the DDA 1995 to make reasonable adjustments to allow access to their goods and services. They are responding to this duty.
	As a condition of their licence to operate, Network Rail are required to publish a Disabled Persons' Protection Policy, approved by the department, setting out the service level they commit to provide to people with reduced mobility, when accessing their stations.

Fixed Penalties: Appeals

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many recorded challenges against penalty charge notices there were in each local authority area in each of the last 12 months; and how many of these were successful.

Rosie Winterton: The Government do not hold this information.

Galileo

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government resources have been used in support of Cardiff's bid to be the permanent home of the EU Galileo Supervisory Authority; and when the Government next expects an opportunity to present its case.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The Government, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government, put forward the Cardiff bid to host the EU GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) in 2005. At the end of 2007, the Finnish presidency reviewed the bids from 11 member states which had declared an interest, but no decision was proposed.
	After the negotiations for a public private partnership to take forward Galileo collapsed earlier this year, the Commission put forward proposals for changing the governance of the programme. These will require, among other things, amendments to the EU regulation which set up the GSA. The question of its location is not likely to be considered until the GSA and other regulations have been agreed, some time in 2008.
	The Department for Transport, in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, the Wales Office, the FCO and other Departments, has taken the lead in promoting the Cardiff bid, mainly through lobbying of other member states. It would not be possible to separate out, or cost, the amount of time spent by officials in promoting Cardiff from the efforts in promoting the Government's objective for Galileo more generally.

Motor Vehicles: Crime

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of her Department's budget is spent on combating vehicle crime.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The lead responsibility for combating vehicle crime rests with the Home Office. Many of the activities of DfT and its agencies also help to tackle vehicle crime. Among the key achievements in 2006-07 were: the introduction of theft-resistant number plates to help combat car cloning and car ID theft; and an increase in wheel clamping activities to tackle vehicle excise duty evasion. It is not possible to quantify the precise proportion of expenditure.

Public Transport: Innovation

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential environmental effects of Government encouragement of the use on upright electric personal transporter.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None. However, if, as I understand, their use is likely to be as an alternative to walking or cycling then their potential to reduce greenhouse gases and local pollution is minimal.
	There are no plans to amend legislation to permit Segway use on public roads or cycle/pedestrian facilities in Great Britain, but the Department for Transport has invited the company to share the results of any research into Segway use elsewhere.

Railways: Exhaust Emissions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the average volume of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger per kilometre for travel by rail.

Tom Harris: The Department estimates that travel by rail in 2005-06 resulted in an average of 60 g of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometre. A recent report by the Association of Train Operating Companies provides a slightly lower figure for 2006-07 of 58 g per passenger kilometre, reflecting both increased passenger numbers and the wider use of regenerative braking on electric trains.

Railways: Tickets

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the Government expects nationwide coverage for the use of smartcards on the national rail network to be reached.

Tom Harris: The recently let franchises—South Western, West Midlands, East Midlands and Intercity East Coast have a commitment to start the roll-out of smartcard ticketing by 2010, with the New Cross Country Franchise accepting smartcard tickets issued by other operators. The rail strategy White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Railway", published this summer and available in the Library of the House, contains more detail of the Government's intention to work with the rail industry to roll-out ITSO smartcards more widely across the network by the end of 2014.

Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that the renewable transport fuels obligation will help to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which will come into effect in April 2008, is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring transport fuel suppliers to ensure that an increasing percentage of their total road transport fuel sales is made up of biofuels. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions saved by different biofuels varies considerably and depends on a wide range of factors including the amount of energy used in the cultivation, processing and transportation of the crop. The RTFO will include a reporting mechanism to encourage transport fuel suppliers to source those biofuels which deliver high levels of carbon savings in a sustainable way, and to allow the policy's greenhouse gas savings to be accurately quantified. The Government estimate that by 2010 the RTFO could save between 2.6 and 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
	From April 2010 the Government aim to reward biofuels under the RTFO according to their carbon savings in order to provide greater certainty as to the precise carbon savings delivered by the scheme. Further details of how this might be done are set out in a policy paper which is available via the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/secrtfostake/informalpolicypaper
	Such a change would require a number of changes to the existing RTFO legislation, which would be subject to public consultation.

Road Traffic: Schools

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of her officials are working on proposals to reduce the traffic generated by the school run.

Rosie Winterton: The development of proposals to reduce the traffic generated by the school run does not fall into neat boxes that enable us to identify exactly how many officials are engaged on this. There are four officials who do work on reducing car use for journeys to and from school, mainly through the joint DfT/DCSF 'Travelling to School' project, in the Department's sustainable travel initiatives team. Additional work to promote and facilitate walking and cycling to school is done by the six officials working in the Department's walking and cycling team and by Cycling England, an independent body set up by the Department in 2005 to promote cycling. In addition, officials in several other teams across the Department work on the development of proposals that have a direct impact on parents' decisions as to whether or not to let their children travel to and from school by non-car modes. They include people engaged in road safety, traffic management, buses, and local and regional transport policy.
	In addition, and as part of their joint 'Travelling to School' project, DfT and DCSF are providing sufficient funding for local authorities to employ around 250 school travel advisers who work with schools to help them develop and implement school travel plans, which are seen as the key strategies for reducing car use for journeys to and from school. The school travel advisers are supported by a network of 11 regional school travel advisers.

Roads: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the likely effect of  (a) the new settlement planned at Hunts Grove and  (b) the new waste facility planned for Javelin Park on traffic flows on (i) Junction 12 on the M5 and (ii) the B4008.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has assessed the likely impact of the proposed Hunts Grove development and estimates that it will increase traffic flows at M5 Junction 12 by 612 and 547 vehicle movements in the morning and afternoon peak hours respectively. The estimated increase in traffic flows on the B4008 is assessed to be an extra 157 and 129 vehicle movements in the morning and afternoon peak hours respectively.
	A package of appropriate improvement works to mitigate the effects of the development on Junction 12 has been agreed in principle between the Highways Agency, Gloucestershire county council and the developers. Mitigation works to improve the A38/B4008 Cross Keys Junction have also been agreed in principle between the county and developers.
	As soon as a transport assessment is received for the proposed new waste facility planned for Javelin Park then an assessment of the impact on Junction 12 of the M5 and the B4008 can be undertaken.

Severn Bridge: Tolls

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to amend Regulation 5 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 to allow the introduction of facilities to pay by card and online; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 4 December 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones). (UIN 168704).

Severn Crossings

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans her Department has to introduce facilities for the payment of tolls on the Severn crossings by  (a) debit and  (b) credit cards.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 November 2007
	We recognise the potential benefits of a more flexible payment system for the Severn crossings. Therefore, the Government are exploring the legal and commercial issues raised by credit and debit card payments through a working group involving Department for Transport officials and Severn River Crossings plc.

Speed Limits: Cameras

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will compensate drivers who have been erroneously  (a) fined and  (b) charged with speeding on the evidence of illegally operating speed cameras.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Whether or not a person is properly convicted is a matter for the courts. If a person believes his/her conviction should not stand, they should consider whether to appeal to the appropriate appellate court. There is a compensation scheme in place for those who appeal successfully, but this only applies in certain very narrowly-defined circumstances.
	Under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) will pay compensation where an applicant has a criminal conviction quashed at an out of time appeal on the basis of a new or newly discovered fact that shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice, unless the non-disclosure of the unknown fact was wholly or partly attributable to the convicted person. Every application is considered on its merits.
	The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor would decide whether an applicant is eligible for compensation and if he approved compensation the independent assessor would decide on the amount of compensation.

Speed Limits: Cameras

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of driving licences which have been disqualified as a result of points being issued on the evidence of illegally operating speed cameras in the last period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on driving licence disqualifications through totting up of penalty points does not include details of the circumstances giving rise to the endorsements of points on the licence.

Vehicle Number Plates

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulation applies to the placing of  (a) a European 12 star flag and  (b) a UK union flag on vehicle number plates above the initials GB.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, prescribe the requirements to which number plates and registration marks must conform. Regulation 16 relates to the international distinguishing sign and other materials.

Waterloo Station

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much funding will be provided for track alterations to enable domestic main line services to utilise the platforms of the Waterloo International terminal;
	(2)  when she expects the platforms of the Waterloo International terminal to be opened for domestic services.

Tom Harris: Ownership of Waterloo International transfers to the Department at the end of March 2008 following Eurostar's de-commissioning of the facility as an international station. The Department is currently working closely with Network Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains (the train operating company) to finalise the design and costs associated with the partial conversion of Waterloo International to accommodate some domestic passenger services. The cost information should be finalised early next year. Works on site are expected to commence soon after the station transfers to the Department and will take several months to complete. Services could then operate into and out of Platform 20 of Waterloo International from the start of the timetable change date in December 2008.
	Options for the medium to long-term use of all five international platforms are being assessed by the Department and Network Rail as part of a wider strategy for the upgrade of Waterloo station. Costs will be determined as part of this process. The medium term proposals would require significant infrastructure alterations at Waterloo. Additionally, it would be linked to the procurement of additional rolling stock to lengthen trains. The timescale for implementation is likely to be around 2012-14.

TREASURY

2006 Pre-Budget Report

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the data supporting chart 5.1 in the 2006 pre-Budget report; and what the expected benefits to families in each category will be of the health in pregnancy grant.

Jane Kennedy: The requested data is given as follows.
	
		
			  Weekly gains for families with children from tax credits and other children's measures by April 2007 
			  Gross income (£)  1 child (£)  2 children (£)  3 or more children (£)  Number of families with children in income band (million)  Families with children in income band as a percentage of population 
			 Under 10,000 30 55 88 1.7 23 
			 10,000-19,999 40 69 99 1.1 14 
			 20,000-29,999 14 26 59 1.3 17 
			 30,000-39,999 14 16 19 1.2 16 
			 40,000-49,999 15 15 16 0.8 11 
			 50,000 and above 5 6 6 1.4 18 
			 Overall average 21 29 54 7.4 100 
			  Source:  HM Treasury 
		
	
	The Health in Pregnancy Grant cannot be compared with this data, as it is a one-off payment to women during pregnancy. The benefit to all women receiving the Grant will be £190.

Average Earnings: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average wage in Suffolk was in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average wage in Suffolk was in each year since 1997. (171617)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
	ASHE results can be obtained on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ashe

Cancer

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of survival for each type of cancer was in each  (a) constituency,  (b) primary care trust area,  (c) hospital trust area,  (d) region and  (e) social demographic group in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 6 December 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the rate of survival for each type of cancer was in each  (a) constituency,  (b) primary care trust area,  (c) hospitals trust area,  (d) region and  (e) social demographic group in the most recent period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence.
	The Office for National Statistics does not produce survival rates by  (a) constituency,  (b) primary care trust area, and  (c) hospitals trust area, but the latest one-and five-year survival for eight common cancers by  (d) government office region (and strategic health authority), for patients diagnosed in 1997-99 and followed up to 31 December 2004, are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=11991&Pos=9&ColRank=l&Rank=272
	Five-year cancer survival by  (e) social demographic group was published as a collaborative paper between the Office for National Statistics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in Coleman MP et al (2004) 'Trends and socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival in England and Wales up to 2001' in  British Journal of Cancer 90, 1367-1373. The deprivation gaps between the most and least deprived groups, in five-year relative survival rates for the 20 most common cancers are available within this publication.

Child Benefit Agency: Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much staff at the Child Benefit Agency were paid in bonuses in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 The Child Benefit Office employs around 1,200 people. The director of Child Benefit Operations recognises exceptional performance—including examples of excellent customer service—through a recognition bonus scheme.
	The total value of bonus payments made to Child Benefit Office staff from December 2006 to November 2007 inclusive was £17,175.

Child Benefit Agency: Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 10 largest bonus payments made to Child Benefits Agency staff were in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 The 10 largest recognition bonus scheme payments made to Child Benefit Office staff from December 2006 to November 2007 were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of bonus payments  Value of bonus (£) 
			 1 1,000 
			 1 500 
			 2 300 
			 1 275 
			 5 250

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions CDs containing personal data have been despatched to  (a) other departments,  (b) agencies and  (c) the National Audit Office by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three years; and how many of those CDs were (i) encrypted and (ii) password-protected.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	HMRC may only disclose information which it holds in accordance with the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. Most transfers of data take place under statutory gateways which specify circumstances in which HMRC may disclose such information. All disclosures must be compliant with the Data Protection Act 1988 and the Human Rights Act 1988. Memorandums of Understanding, Partnership Agreements and Codes of Practice set out the relationship between HMRC and the department or other body receiving the data, including the specific procedures and protocols governing the use of information.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what staff grade at HM Revenue and Customs has the  (a) authority and  (b) ability to (i) access the entire child benefit database and (ii) transfer data on that database to other storage devices.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	There is an ongoing police investigation and an independent review of HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cf.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the total cost to his Department of the repercussions of the loss of personal information from the Child Benefit database, including setting up the HM Revenue and Customs Child Benefit Helpline.

Jane Kennedy: At this stage it is too early to provide an estimate of what the total cost to HMRC may be.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to  (a) Government and  (b) other bodies of the loss of personal data from the Child Benefit database.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	At this stage it is too early to provide an estimate of the cost to the Government and other bodies.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the relevant password to open the Child Benefit database was supplied with the data given by the HM Revenue and Customs to the National Audit Office.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 It would be inappropriate for me to provide information relating to this issue at this stage as there is an ongoing police investigation.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the personal details lost by HM Revenue and Customs, how many of those affected were  (a) adults and  (b) children, broken down by sex.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 The missing information contains details of child benefit records for 25 million individuals, 9.5 million adult claimants, 15.5 million children and 7.25 million families.
	A breakdown of the requested information by gender could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the personal details lost by HM Revenue and Customs, how many of those affected were  (a) adult and  (b) children in North West Cambridgeshire constituency, broken down by sex.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in North West Cambridgeshire.
	Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by constituency are published as part of National Statistics and can be found in tables 1a, 2 and 3 of Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis which are available on HMRC's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geog-aug06.pdf
	A breakdown of the requested information by gender could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those whose data was lost by HM Revenue and Customs were  (a) adults and  (b) children of each sex in (i) Southend West constituency, (ii) Southend and (iii) Essex.

Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in Southend West constituency, Southend and Essex.
	Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by constituency and local authority are published as part of National Statistics and can be found in Tables 1a, 2 and 3 of child benefit statistics geographical analysis which are available on HMRC's website at:
	http//www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geog-aug06.pdf
	A breakdown of the requested information by gender could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sanctions he has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take against the HM Revenue and Customs official who posted two compact discs containing confidential child benefit information; what grade the official is; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: It would be inappropriate to comment on this issue as there is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the police.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

John Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child benefit claimants in  (a) Uxbridge constituency and  (b) the London borough of Hillingdon are affected by the loss of bank account details by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients, including those in Uxbridge and the London borough of Hillingdon.
	Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by constituency and local authority is published as part of National Statistics and can be found in Tables 1a and 2 of Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis which are available on HMRC's website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geogaug06.pdf.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those whose data was lost by HM Revenue and Customs were  (a) adults and  (b) children resident in (i) Ribble Valley constituency and (ii) Lancashire; and how many families this represents.

Jane Kennedy: The missing information contains details of all child benefit recipients including those from Ribble Valley and Lancashire.
	Information on families receiving child benefit at 31 August 2006 by constituency and local authority is published as part of National Statistics and can be found in Tables 1a and 2 of Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis which are available on HMRC's website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geogaug06.pdf.

Data Protection

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training is provided to staff in his Department and its agencies on the safe handling of data to counteract identity theft and other data security breaches.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC and its agency has in place a range of measures and procedures in relation to training and guidance on data protection and data security and transfer.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Death: Elderly

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of excess winter deaths were of pensioners in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of excess winter deaths were of pensioners in the most recent period for which figures are available. (172127)
	The latest data for excess winter mortality for England and Wales are currently provisional figures for 2006/07. It is not possible to tell from mortality data whether the deceased was a pensioner. However, ONS has published figures for excess winter mortality by age group and Government Office Region (GOR) of England, and Wales on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7089.xls
	Using this table for the latest provisional year's figures available for the winter of 2006/07, 93 per cent of excess winter mortality occurred in people aged 65 and over.

Death: Macclesfield

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average number of excess winter deaths in Macclesfield constituency was in each year between  (a) 2000 and 2005; and how many there were in 2004-05.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average number of excess winter deaths in Macclesfield constituency was in the period  (a) 2000 to 2005 and  (b) 2004-05. (172064)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths relate to a four-month period from December of one year to March of the next year. The average annual number of excess winter deaths(1,2) in Macclesfield parliamentary constituency(3) in the five winters from 2000-01 to 2004-05, and the number in winter 2004-05, was 50.
	(1) The estimated number of excess winter deaths is the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	(2 )Data are based on deaths occurring in each month.
	(3) Using boundaries as of 2007 for all years.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reviews have been undertaken of his Department's rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department's compliance with data protection laws; and if  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Data Protection

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition are.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Salary band information as at 31 October 2007 
			  Salary Band  Range B  Range C  Range D  Range E  SCS Payband 1  SCS Payband 2  SCS Payband 3  Permanent Secretary 
			 Number of staff (FTE) 152.63 164.92 395.93 348.62 85.36 18.80 6 2 
		
	
	Posts within HM Treasury are known by ranges and not role titles.
	 Bonus Structure
	Bonuses are paid in two circumstances: performance bonuses are those linked to the annual staff appraisal system; special bonuses are those paid to recognise exceptional performance for specific contributions or pieces of work during the year or situations outside the normal expectations of the post.
	 Retirement Provision
	The retirement age for staff is 65
	 Expenses Provision
	Any expenses necessarily incurred by staff in conducting the business of the Department are reimbursed in accordance with HM Treasury's travel policy.
	 Total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years
	The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 Average age, gender breakdown and ethnic composition
	This information is published as Civil Service Statistics 2006 on the Government statistics public website
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.p

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much each telephone contact centre for which his Department is responsible has  (a) cost and  (b) generated in income in each financial year since their establishment.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested relating to each specific Contact Centre is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	With regard to income generation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary on 5 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1183W.

Departmental Travel

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on  (a) business and  (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much was spent by his Department on first- class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1186W and to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1970W.
	This figure includes most, but not all, first-class train travel by HMT staff. We do not hold central records of train tickets bought with corporate credit cards or for which paper claims are submitted. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Pensioners: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of people in Suffolk were aged 65 years and over in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions regarding how many and what proportion of people in Suffolk were aged 65 years and over in each year since 1997. (171620)
	Table 1 shows the population aged 65 and over and the percentage of population aged 65 and over for Suffolk for the years requested.
	The latest population estimates available are for mid-2006.
	
		
			  Table 1: Population aged 65 and over and percentage of population aged 65 and over for Suffolk 
			  Mid-year  65 plus  Percentage of population 65 plus 
			 1997 118,000 18 
			 1998 119,000 18 
			 1999 120,000 18 
			 2000 121,000 18 
			 2001 123,000 18 
			 2002 124,000 .18 
			 2003 126,000 19 
			 2004 128,000 19 
			 2005 130,000 19 
			 2006 131,000 19 
			  Note: Data are rounded to the nearest 1000  Source: Office for National Statistics

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government contracts have been awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers for the purposes of administering an insolvency in which the Government was a creditor in the last 10 years; and what percentage of Government debt was recovered in each case.

Angela Eagle: Information on individual contracts is not held centrally and Government interest in the contracts is not identified at project summary level. It would be necessary to review all professional services contracts with PricewaterhouseCoopers with each Department who may have been involved in insolvency work and this would incur disproportionate cost. Legal, contractual and ethical protocols safeguard propriety.

Public Expenditure

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was distributed under the Barnett formula to  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland as a result of expenditure on London in each of the last 10 years.

Andy Burnham: The Barnett Formula gives the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland shares of changes in public expenditure allocations to UK Government Departments. It is a matter for individual UK Government Departments to allocate spending to individual regions of England such as London. Details of operation of the Barnett Formula are available in the Treasury publication 'Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly: Statement of Funding Policy'.
	Full details of identifiable spending by region including London may be found in Chapter 9 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2007 (Cm 7091).

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure all CD burners are removed from HM Revenue and Customs computer departments until security procedures have been reviewed.

Jane Kennedy: I understand that staff access to removable media has already been disabled. Desktop PCs and laptops in HMRC are no longer able to read CDs, floppy disks, USB storage and other memory card devices. This facility can only be re-enabled with the authorisation of a director or the senior member of staff responsible for data transfer in the appropriate business area.
	On 20 November, the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the HM Revenue and Customs' estate in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is conducting a series of regional reviews of all its accommodation across the UK to match it to future operational requirements. By consolidating work in fewer locations HMRC will be able to provide a better service at a lower cost to the taxpayer.
	HMRC is currently considering feedback from consultation on its initial proposals for rationalising its estate in the Belfast urban centre. All HMRC's other offices in Northern Ireland will be reviewed together next year, in order to facilitate the completion of an equality impact assessment of its proposals. Decisions will be announced after the completion of full consultation and subsequent evaluation of the proposals. HMRC is fully committed to complying with its statutory obligations in Northern Ireland.

Revenue and Customs: Pay

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed  (a) in each salary grade and  (b) in each region by HM Revenue and Customs (i) in 2005 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The numbers of staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs in each Government Office Region at the relevant dates are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  At 1 April 2005  SCS  Grade 6  Grade 7  SEO  HEO  EO  AO  AA  Total 
			 East of England 14 58 133 538 1,186 2,070 2,231 1,262 7,492 
			 East Midlands 12 73 176 332 748 1,377 1,659 974 5,351 
			 London 267 556 786 1,090 2,693 3,742 2,585 1,112 12,831 
			 North East 5 37 112 313 912 2,537 7,690 2,854 14,460 
			 Northern Ireland 2 15 37 92 300 762 1,082 403 2,693 
			 North West 39 144 294 619 1,774 3,796 6,814 2,473 15,953 
			 Scotland 17 67 153 252 908 2,410 5,204 1,703 10,714 
			 South East 6 57 179 398 1,597 3,694 3,632 1,446 11,009 
			 South West 5 45 127 161 665 1,427 1,749 939 5,118 
			 Wales 2 18 56 115 490 1,219 2,191 913 5,004 
			 West Midlands 17 103 217 339 939 1,686 2,053 1,065 6,419 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 12 49 146 274 851 1,848 2,731 1,381 7,292 
			 Unreported and elsewhere 3 3 8 10 42 146 95 27 334 
			 Total 40, 1,225 2,424 4,533 13,105 26,714 39,716 16,552 104,670 
			  At 1 October 2007  
			 East of England 8 40 116 400 1,048 1,814 1,857 865 6,148 
			 East Midlands 16 67 162 281 668 1,162 1,435 733 4,524 
			 London 271 524 757 948 2,152 2,872 2,114 845 10,483 
			 North East 7 36 114 280 772 2,217 7,152 2,670 13,248 
			 Northern Ireland 3 11 39 87 280 677 1,021 275 2,393 
			 North West 35 135 341 582 1,640 3,302 6,831 2,103 14,969 
			 Scotland 17 55 140 230 830 2,310 6,008 1,271 10,861 
			 South East 7 43 160 339 1,359 3,052 2,864 995 8,819 
			 South West 8 42 123 133 570 1,166 1,589 678 4,309 
			 Wales 1 15 46 106 451 1,082 2,158 773 4,632 
			 West Midlands 17 99 199 282 812 1,412 1,854 779 5,454 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 12 42 141 237 733 1,538 2,449 1,012 6,164 
			 Unreported and elsewhere 1 0 1 4 19 116 78 8 227 
			 Total 403 1,109 2,339 3,909 11,334 22,720 37,410 13,007 92,231

Revenue and Customs: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average number of people visiting the Stroud tax office for advice each week was in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However it is possible to provide a weekly average for the number of callers to HMRC's Stroud inquiry centre for each year from 2003-04 to the end of October 2007 and this information is provided in the following table. The figures prior to 2003 are not available.
	
		
			  Stroud inquiry centre 
			   Total callers  Weekly average 
			 2003-04 12,019 231 
			 2004-05 10,850 209 
			 2005-06 9,953 191 
			 2006-07 6,869 132 
			 2007-08(1) 3,407 114 
			 (1 )30 weeks to end of October 2007.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money HM Revenue and Customs generated from revenue sharing telephone numbers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary on 5 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1183W.

Social Security Benefits: EC Nationals

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-British EU citizens are in receipt of  (a) family benefit and  (b) child tax credits in respect of children who are not domiciled in the UK.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, column 817W.

Taxation

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on whether changes to the tax system should be announced to Parliament first.

Jane Kennedy: The vast majority of changes to the tax system are announced to Parliament as part of the Budget and pre-Budget report process. To ensure tax policy remains sufficiently flexible and reactive, for example to respond effectively to tax avoidance, tax announcements may also be made outside of this process.

Taxation: Sports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will overturn the decision by HM Revenue and Customs not to treat pigeon racing as a sport for tax purposes;
	(2)  what factors HM Revenue and Customs took into account when determining whether pigeon racing should be treated as a sport for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs are not the arbiters of whether pigeon racing should be treated as a sport and have made no determination as such for tax purposes.

Unemployment: Greater London

John Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many 16 to 24-year-olds were not in employment, education or training in  (a) the Uxbridge constituency,  (b) each London borough and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many 16 to 24 year olds were not in employment, education or training in (a) the Uxbridge constituency, (b) each London borough and (c) England in each year since 1997. (169974)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The tables attached show the numbers of 16 to 24 year olds not in full-time education, employment or training, resident in the Uxbridge constituency, each London borough, and England. Estimates are provided from the local area LFS for the twelve months ending February, for 1999 to 2004, and from the APS for the twelve months ending March, for 2005 to 2007. The tables also show these numbers as the percentage of all 16 to 24 year olds in the areas, for each year, which allows changes to be seen in the context of changing population numbers. Data for the twelve month period ending in February 1998 are not readily available.
	Estimates for a subset of the population in a small geographical area are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. Changes over time should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Table 1: Persons aged 16 to 24 who are not in full-time education, employment or training: 12 months ending February 1999 
			  Area  Number (thousand)  Percentage of all 16 to 24-year-olds 
			 Uxbridge constituency 1 12 
			
			 City of London (1)— (1)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 20 
			 Barnet 4 13 
			 Bexley 4 15 
			 Brent 5 14 
			 Bromley 4 16 
			 Camden 3 14 
			 Croydon 6 17 
			 Ealing 5 19 
			 Enfield 5 15 
			 Greenwich 4 25 
			 Hackney 8 35 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 14 
			 Haringey 7 23 
			 Harrow 2 10 
			 Havering 3 11 
			 Hillingdon 3 10 
			 Hounslow 4 19 
			 Islington 6 28 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4 24 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2 11 
			 Lambeth 5 17 
			 Lewisham 4 19 
			 Merton 1 9 
			 Newham 12 35 
			 Redbridge 4 17 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 15 
			 Southwark 10 27 
			 Sutton 2 10 
			 Tower Hamlets 7 26 
			 Waltham Forest 7 23 
			 Wandsworth 3 10 
			 Westminster 4 25 
			
			 England 811 16 
			 (1) Sample size too small to provide estimates.  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. 2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with caution  Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Persons aged 16 to 24 who are not in full-time education, employment or training: 12 months ending February 2000 
			  Area  Number (thousand)  Percentage of all 16 to 24-year-olds 
			 Uxbridge constituency (1)— (1)— 
			
			 City of London (1)— (1)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 18 
			 Barnet 6 14 
			 Bexley 5 21 
			 Brent 8 18 
			 Bromley 3 12 
			 Camden 1 5 
			 Croydon 4 14 
			 Ealing 4 11 
			 Enfield 5 15 
			 Greenwich 4 21 
			 Hackney 9 33 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 22 
			 Haringey 6 19 
			 Harrow 4 16 
			 Havering 3 15 
			 Hillingdon 3 13 
			 Hounslow 2 9 
			 Islington 5 25 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2 20 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2 14 
			 Lambeth 7 24 
			 Lewisham 5 18 
			 Merton 2 13 
			 Newham 11 33 
			 Redbridge 5 17 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1 13 
			 Southwark 7 22 
			 Sutton 2 13 
			 Tower Hamlets 6 19 
			 Waltham Forest 4 16 
			 Wandsworth 4 14 
			 Westminster 3 17 
			
			 England 792 15 
			 (1) Sample size too small to provide estimates.  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. 2.Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with caution.  Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Persons aged 16 to 24 who are not in full-time education, employment or training: 12 months ending February 2001 
			  Area  Number (thousand)  Percentage of all 16 to 24-year-olds 
			 Uxbridge constituency 1 12 
			
			 City of London (1)— (1)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5 24 
			 Barnet 6 15 
			 Bexley 3 12 
			 Brent 8 22 
			 Bromley 4 13 
			 Camden 4 18 
			 Croydon 6 19 
			 Ealing 9 24 
			 Enfield 3 9 
			 Greenwich 7 28 
			 Hackney 6 26 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 22 
			 Haringey 9 31 
			 Harrow 3 15 
			 Havering 2 8 
			 Hillingdon 5 21 
			 Hounslow 3 11 
			 Islington 5 21 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2 11 
			 Lambeth 4 11 
			 Lewisham 4 13 
			 Merton 4 18 
			 Newham 9 26 
			 Redbridge 3 12 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1 7 
			 Southwark 8 28 
			 Sutton 3 16 
			 Tower Hamlets 7 21 
			 Waltham Forest 5 19 
			 Wandsworth 4 14 
			 Westminster 4 17 
			 England 808 16 
			 (1) Sample size too small to provide estimates.  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. 2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with caution.  Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey

Welfare Tax Credits

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that tax credit claimants are consulted before deductions are made to compensate for overpayments;
	(2)  what measures are in place to assist families in financial hardship as a result of tax credit overpayments;
	(3)  if he will take steps to ensure that repayment demands made of tax credit claimants who have received overpayments are affordable;
	(4)  what procedures are in place for consultations between his Department and HM Revenue and Customs to ensure that demands for repayments made to tax credit claimants who have been overpaid by both departments are affordable.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC's approach on recovery of overpayments is set out in Code of Practice 26 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credits'. In cases where recovery is made from an ongoing award, a customer's award notice will confirm the amount of the overpayment and how much the award will be reduced by to recover the sum. To prevent hardship, payments from ongoing award are restricted to 10 per cent. of the tax credit award for those on maximum tax credits awards (those families with the lowest incomes). For those on a tapered award (those families whose income is higher than the WTC or CTC income threshold) recovery is set at 25 per cent. If families face financial difficulties on the reduced payments, they are advised to contact HMRC and ask for their case to be reconsidered.
	If the customer is no longer entitled to tax credits, or their tax credits award has ended, as the household has changed, HMRC will write asking for a direct payment. The customer can pay back the amount over 12 months or, if a family says this would cause them financial hardship, over a longer period.
	In exceptional circumstances, HMRC may write off all or part of an overpayment if it would cause hardship to pay it back.
	I announced to the House on 18 October 2007,  Official Report, column 944, that HMRC will replace the "reasonable belief test" with a clearer test that will set out customer's responsibilities for checking factual information, and what in turn they can expect from HMRC.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to recover tax credits overpaid to claimants from their estates after their decease, as referred to in the answer of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 243W, on welfare tax credits: overpayments.

Jane Kennedy: Where a customer has died, HMRC make every effort to obtain a voluntary settlement of any outstanding overpayment from their personal representative or executor. If there are no funds in the estate, or if HMRC are unable to identify the personal representative or executor, the overpayment is written off.
	In cases where a household has broken down and one of the couple has since died, both customers remain jointly and severally liable in law for any outstanding overpayment. If there are no funds in the deceased estate HMRC attempt to recover the full overpayment from the surviving partner taking account of their personal circumstances and our hardship provisions. But, HMRC would seek to do so sensitively and may, for example, recover the overpayment over an extended period or use our discretion to recover less than the full amount in some cases if appropriate.

WALES

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: Chapter 7 of the ministerial code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of posts in his Department have been recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office is a small office which supports the Secretary of State for Wales. We do not have executive functions, and posts are not defined as 'frontline' or 'back office'.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: Nil.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training programmes will be provided for Child Support Agency staff relating to the establishment of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

James Plaskitt: People working in the Child Support Agency will be prepared for the establishment of the Child maintenance and Enforcement Commission through training and communication programmes, which will be developed as key appointments and decisions are made.
	It is worth noting that the introduction of changes to the statutory maintenance system will be phased over the next few years, and we anticipate the Commission developing training programmes in line with these changes.

Children: Maintenance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures the Child Support Agency has in place to deal with cases of disputed parentage.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the Hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty dated 6 December 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	.
	When preparing a maintenance assessment for a qualifying child, the Agency can assume parentage if one of a number of conditions are met. S3ection 26 of the Child Support Act 1991 details each of the circumstances in which the Agency can assume parentage.
	An alleged non-resident parent can seek to rebut such a presumption via the courts at any time if they so wish, but in the meantime the Agency will proceed with making and enforcing a maintenance assessment. This speeds up the assessment process and helps prevent parentage disputes which only serve to delay the flow of maintenance to the detriment of the children.
	In addition the Agency can offer alleged non-resident parents who dispute parentage access to DNA test. However parentage is assumed where the alleged non-resident parent refuses to take a DNA test or the test result shows that they are the parent of the child in question.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) intends to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 in relation to adaptation to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Climate Change Bill and the cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework (due for publication in spring 2008) will set out the Government's overall strategy on climate change. As yet, there are no specific targets in place for adaptation—these will be set following the publication of the Adaptation Policy Framework. The Department continues to work towards the achievement of the carbon reduction and neutrality targets for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate.
	DWP recognises that the most vulnerable in society may be disproportionately affected by climate change. As such, it is important to take steps to adapt to the short, medium and long-term risks and impacts. At the beginning of this year, the Department commissioned the Hadley Centre for Climate Change to undertake a high level assessment, building on an internal review carried out in 2003, of the risks that climate change poses to its policies and operations. This was launched at the Department's Sustainable Development conference in March, which focused and engaged senior officials specifically on the theme of climate change adaptation. The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2007, and will form the basis for a future programme of adaptation work, based on the priorities identified.

Crisis Loans: Standards

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in implementing the Crisis Loans Improvement Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 6 December 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question on what progress has been made in implementing the Crisis Loan Improvement Plan. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Crisis Loan Improvement Plan involved a pilot which started in Sheffield Contact Centre on 21 May 2007 which involved working with Benefit Delivery Centres to provide decisions on Crisis Loan applications within three hours of the customer's telephone call. Due to the success of this pilot the process has since been extended to 12 Social Fund Centres, supported by eight Contact Centres answering all Crisis Loan calls.
	The Contact Centres are able to move calls around the network to support demand. After three months 700 Contact Centre staff, supported by Benefit Delivery Centre colleagues are undertaking this work. As a result over 90% of calls handled in this way are now being answered first time.
	In addition, the call logger system, which captures management information on volumes of calls and numbers of calls answered has been further developed and is currently being implemented in Benefit Delivery Centres and Contact Centres to ensure that sufficient staff are available to answer calls.
	I hope this is helpful.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for brand management and marketing in his Department and its agencies.

Anne McGuire: The amount of full-time equivalent staff responsible for brand management and marketing in the Department and its agencies is set out in the following table. It is not possible to separate figures for each category as many posts combine both roles.
	
		
			  Agency  Staff 
			 Child Support Agency 4 
			 DWP Corporate 27 
			 Disability and Carers Service 1 
			 Health and Safety Executive 3 
			 Jobcentre Plus 92 
			 The Pension Service 11 
			 The Rent Service 5 
			 Total 143 
			  Note: These figures have been rounded to reflect part-time staff.

Government Equalities Office

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Government Department the Government Equalities Office comes under; and what the Ministerial responsibilities are of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the office.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 3 December 2007
	The Government Equalities Office is a Government Department in its own right; support services are currently provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. Barbara Follett supports the Minister for Women and Equality (Ms Harman) across the range of equalities issues. A revised list of ministerial responsibilities was published by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 18 October 2007. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries of the House. The list can also be accessed at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ministerial_responsibilities.aspx

Incapacity Benefit

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many incapacity benefit claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit for two to five years have found  (a) employment and  (b) sustained employment in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many incapacity benefit claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit for five years or more have found  (a) employment and  (b) sustained employment in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many incapacity benefit claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit for between one and two years have found  (a) employment and  (b) sustained employment in each year since 2000.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available as claimants are not obliged to explain why they are leaving incapacity benefit, and the information we have, therefore, is not considered to provide an accurate picture.

Incapacity Benefit: Appeals

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) cost of administering,  (b) number and  (c) average success rate was of appeals against refusal of incapacity benefit in each of the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is only available from 2000-01 and the costs are not broken down specifically by benefit type.
	The following table shows the total number of incapacity benefit appeals cleared at a hearing since 2000-01 and the number found in favour of the appellant. The cost figure for each year represents the average cost of clearing an appeal over the entire appeal caseload and is not broken down specifically by benefit type, or by type of clearance (hearing/non hearing).
	
		
			  Appeals for incapacity benefit 
			   Intake( 1)  Cleared at hearing( 2)  Found in favour of the appellant( 3)  Percentage  found in favour of the appellan t( 4)  Average cost of clearing an appeal (£) 
			 2000-01 48,520 37,520 15,190 40.5 213 
			 2001-02 49,770 35,440 14,890 42.0 222 
			 2002-03 61,150 43,030 19,630 45.6 235 
			 2003-04 62,970 47,490 22,250 46.9 243 
			 2004-05 62,610 44,540 21,150 47.5 253 
			 2005-06 63,650 50,270 23,680 47.1 262 
			 2006-07 66,694 52,264 25,900 49.6 261 
			 (1) The number of appeals accepted by the Tribunals Service (2) All decisions that went to hearing that were cleared. (3)( )All hearing decisions cleared in favour of appellant. (4)( )The percentage of all hearing decisions cleared in favour of appellant.  Source: The Tribunal Service, from GAPS and G2 Reports

Jobseeker's Allowance: Basic Skills

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants in receipt of basic skills training have succeeded in obtaining a basic skills qualification in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Skills provision is a devolved issue. Responsibility for monitoring training outcomes rests with the Learning and Skills Council in England, Local Authorities in Scotland and The Welsh Assembly Government in Wales.
	Jobseeker's allowance customers can undertake part-time skills training including basic skills courses without a referral from Jobcentre Plus provided it does not conflict with the work search requirements of their benefit. Jobcentre Plus would not routinely record qualification outcomes for these part-time courses.
	Some jobseeker's allowance customers with identified basic skills needs that are a barrier to finding work are referred by Jobcentre Plus to full-time basic skills provision on a voluntary basis. These customers are supported by a training allowance.
	The recently published "Employment, Opportunity and Progression: making skills work" aims to build on these arrangements and provide a more integrated employment and skills service. Obtaining more comprehensive information about the skills as well as the work outcomes will be one element of the new approach.

New Deal Schemes: Disabled

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals participated in the new deal for disabled people in each year since its inception; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who will access  (a) the new deal for disabled people and  (b) pathways to work following the roll out of pathways to work, broken down by Jobcentre Plus district.

Caroline Flint: An estimate of the total number of people who will access new deal for disabled people (NDDP) and pathways to work, following roll out of pathways to work, broken down by Jobcentre Plus district, is not available.
	Up to the end of August 2007, 271,180 people had participated in new deal for disabled people.
	Information on the number of people starting the programme in each year is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal for disabled people 
			   Number of individuals starting 
			 2001 5,740 
			 2002 24,320 
			 2003 30,260 
			 2004 48,280 
			 2005 58,140 
			 2006 61,600 
			  Notes: 1. The new deal for disabled people programme was introduced in July 2001. 2. Latest complete year data is for 2006. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Years are calendar years. Data for 2001 relates to July 2001 to December 2001. 5. If an individual has started more than once, only their latest start will be included in the table.  Source: Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions

School Leaving

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on child support cases of having a different school leaving age in England and other parts of the United Kingdom;
	(2)  whether he will seek to amend the definition of child in article 55 of the Child Support Act 1991 in line with the Government's proposals to raise the minimum age to which young people must stay in education or training; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will assess the effect of the Government's proposals to raise the minimum age to which young people must stay in education or training on the projected caseload of  (a) the Child Support Agency and  (b) the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The details of the Government's proposals to raise the school leaving age are currently being developed. However we intend to continue to mirror child benefit provisions in the definition of a child for child maintenance purposes.
	If young people in England are required to stay at school or in training until they are 17 or 18, we anticipate that non-resident parents will still be liable for maintenance until the young person leaves school or training. Young people in other parts of the UK who can choose to leave education or training at 16 will cease to receive maintenance should they do so.
	The Government's proposals on raising the school leaving age are due to take effect from 2013, by which time we anticipate that child maintenance cases will largely be subject to the new scheme's rules.
	With the increased focus on voluntary arrangements and the ending of the requirement that parents with care on benefit be treated as applying for child maintenance, not all of the current Child Support Agency caseload will choose to use the statutory maintenance service and be subject to the new scheme's rules. Since we do not know the precise composition of the resulting caseload, it is not possible to estimate the impact on those existing cases on moving to the Commission.

Social Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the rate of refusal was for Social Fund applications in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) type and  (b) reason for rejection.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Budgeting loans, Great Britain, 1 April 2007 to 31 October 2007 
			  Refusal reason  Number of initial refusals  Initial refusals as percentage of initial decisions 
			 Outstanding debt 96,300 11.1 
			 Not on IS/JSA(IB)/PC 40,600 4.7 
			 Not in receipt of qualifying benefit for 26 weeks 65,400 7.5 
			 Other 3,900 0.4 
			 Total 206,100 23.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Crisis loans, Great Britain, 1 April 2007 to 31 October 2007 
			  Refusal reason  Number of initial refusals  Initial refusals as percentage of initial decisions 
			 No serious risk to health and safety 247,400 21.8 
			 Help available from another source 1,100 0.1 
			 Excluded items 13,100 1.2 
			 Inability to repay 7,400 0.6 
			 Previous application and decision 33,100 2.9 
			 JSA sanction or disallowance 5,800 0.5 
			 Other 5,200 0.5 
			 Total 313,100 27.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Community care grants, Great Britain, 1 April 2007 to 31 October 2007 
			  Refusal reason  Number of initial refusals  Initial refusals as percentage of initial decisions 
			 Savings sufficient to meet cost 300 0.1 
			 Not in receipt of IS/JSA(IB)/PC and unlikely to be 27,400 8.5 
			 Excluded items 9,800 3.0 
			 Amount is less than £30, not travelling expenses 200 0.1 
			 Direction 4 not satisfied 106,700 33.1 
			 Previous application and decision 9,000 2.8 
			 Insufficient priority 19,300 6.0 
			 Other 2,200 0.7 
			 Total 174,800 54.2 
			  Key: IS =income support JSA(IB) = jobseeker's allowance (income-based) PC = pension credit  Notes 1. An application may be refused for more than one reason. These tables are based on primary refusal reasons. 2. Numbers of initial refusals have been rounded to the nearest 100. Percentages have been rounded to one decimal place and have been calculated from unrounded numbers. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source:  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Social Security Benefits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of expected  (a) on-flows,  (b) off-flows and  (c) stock claimant numbers for (i) incapacity benefit (credits only), (ii) incapacity benefit (benefits) (iii) severe disablement allowance, (iv) income support and (v) jobseeker's allowance in each year to 2019-20.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the tables.
	The figures provided are projections that are made as part of the normal process of assessing long-term public finances. As part of this, projections for jobseeker's allowance make use of the Treasury's unemployment assumption.
	The figures provided in the tables are in line with the cautious and prudent approach to making fiscal projections, where the impact of existing and proposed policies is taken into account once there is robust evidence of their effect, but the impact of new or planned policies is not considered where the evidence is more limited. For example, the incapacity benefits figures include estimates of the impact of the roll-out of Pathways to Work but not the introduction of Employment and Support Allowance.
	The figures are not therefore an assessment of the aims or effect of Government strategy in the benefit and employment field.
	
		
			  Projected numbers of working-age claimants of incapacity benefit credits only—Great Britain 2006-07 to 2019-20 
			  thousand 
			   Claimants  Flows-on  Flows-off 
			 2006-07 987 285 284 
			 2007-08 997 286 280 
			 2008-09 990 271 283 
			 2009-10 974 262 276 
			 2010-11 974 269 259 
			 2011-12 979 270 259 
			 2012-13 983 271 260 
			 2013-14 987 272 260 
			 2014-15 993 273 260 
			 2015-16 998 274 261 
			 2016-17 1,005 274 261 
			 2017-18 1,011 275 261 
			 2018-19 1,019 275 260 
			 2019-20 1,026 276 262 
		
	
	
		
			  Projected numbers of working-age claimants in receipt of incapacity benefit—Great Britain 2006-07 to 2019-20 
			  thousand 
			   Claimants  Flows -o n  Flows-o ff 
			 2006-07 1,456 311 357 
			 2007-08 1,408 312 356 
			 2008-09 1,348 297 358 
			 2009-10 1,284 288 347 
			 2010-11 1,261 304 309 
			 2011-12 1,246 308 319 
			 2012-13 1,224 310 316 
			 2013-14 1,213 314 311 
			 2014-15 1,207 317 309 
			 2015-16 1,204 321 309 
			 2016-17 1,207 325 309 
			 2017-18 1,212 330 311 
			 2018-19 1,221 334 312 
			 2019-20 1,230 338 314 
		
	
	
		
			  Projected numbers of claimants (both working-age and pension-age) of severe disablement allowance—Great Britain 2006-07 to 2019-20 
			  thousand 
			   Claimants  Flows-off 
			 2006-07 276 18 
			 2007-08 258 14 
			 2008-09 244 13 
			 2009-10 231 12 
			 2010-11 219 12 
			 2011-12 208 10 
			 2012-13 198 11 
			 2013-14 188 9 
			 2014-15 178 10 
			 2015-16 169 8 
			 2016-17 160 9 
			 2017-18 152 8 
			 2018-19 144 8 
			 2019-20 136 8 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are based on published Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 estimates. 2. Figures do not take into account new or planned policies. 3. Figures are projections and are therefore subject to revisions. 4. Figures include estimates of the impact of equalisation of state pension age on incapacity benefit. 5. New flows onto severe disablement allowance ceased from April 2001. 6. Figures for severe disablement allowance include working-age and pensioner claimants. 7. The balance between flows-on and flows-off will not reconcile to year-on-year changes. This is due to the within-year averaging applied to claimant projections. 
		
	
	
		
			  Projected numbers of claimants of income support—Great Britain 2006-07 to 2019-20 
			  thousand 
			   Caseload  Flows-on  Flows-off 
			 2007-08 2,128 625 640 
			 2008-09 2,099 608 626 
			 2009-10 2,064 608 624 
			 2010-11 2,051 618 622 
			 2011-12 2,060 623 626 
			 2012-13 2,080 626 627 
			 2013-14 2,092 629 626 
			 2014-15 2,099 633 626 
			 2015-16 2,110 637 626 
			 2016-17 2,124 641 627 
			 2017-18 2,144 645 627 
			 2018-19 2,163 649 627 
			 2019-20 2,188 654 628 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are based on published Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 estimates. 2. Figures do not take into account new or planned policies. 3. Figures are projections and are therefore subject to revisions. 4. Figures include estimates of the impact of equalisation of state pension age on income support. 5. The balance between flows-on and flows-off will not reconcile to year-on-year changes. This is due to the within-year averaging applied to claimant projections. 6. The figures for income support will include the majority of the projections for incapacity benefit credits-only. 
		
	
	
		
			  NAO-audited assumption of the numbers on jobseeker's allowance 
			  thousand 
			 2007-08 842 
			 2008-09 871 
			 2009-10 894 
			 2010-11 896 
			 2011-12 896 
			  Notes: 1. These figures relate to Great Britain, and are consistent with the assumption for the UK. 2. The assumption on the future claimant count is the average of a number of forecasts, all of which are made by non-Governmental organisations. When these forecasters predict that the claimant count will increase (as here), it follows that the assumption will reflect that increase. Were these forecasters to predict a decrease in the claimant count, then the assumption would remain constant at its current level for all future years. 3. These figures are audited by the National Audit Office. 4. Since very few of the external forecasters predict the claimant count beyond 2011-12, the assumption ends in that year. 5. The claimant count in 2011-12 is equivalent to 2.9 per cent. of the economically active population of working age, based on the calculations underpinning the Long-Term Public Finance Report. Projections for 2012-13 onwards assume that this rate will be constant.

Stevenage

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on the  (a) ministerial role of and  (b) support for the hon. Member for Stevenage.

Peter Hain: holding answer 3 December 2007
	I have had no discussions with the Leader of the House on this subject. However, there have been various discussions at official level about the provision of administrative and logistical support from my Department to the Government Equalities Office, including ministerial support.

Unemployed: Basic Skills

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research has been carried out into the number of benefit claimants who have undertaken basic skills training whilst in receipt of benefits and who have subsequently been assessed as having basic skills needs on completion of such training.

James Plaskitt: None. However, to address Jobcentre Plus customers' skills barriers, the new Employability Skills programme was introduced in August 2007. This programme has been developed specifically for Jobcentre Plus customers. Measurable outcomes include gaining an employability certificate and associated job outcomes.
	A joint Jobcentre Plus/Learning and Skills Council management information strategy has been developed to evaluate the impact that this training has on our customers and includes collection of data to measure retention and attrition rates together with outcome data for both qualifications and progression into work.
	Jobcentre Plus continues to fund basic skill assessments and training provision for customers that are eligible for the mandatory new deal programmes.

Winter Fuel Payments

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average percentage of pensioners' energy bills likely to be met by the winter fuel allowance in 2007-08.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 19 November 2007
	The information is in the following table. The winter fuel payment is intended to provide a contribution towards winter heating bills which account for around 60 per cent. of the total annual fuel bill. The payment provides a significant contribution to these higher winter costs. Winter fuel payments have increased from 20 in 1997-98 to the current value of £200 for households with someone aged 60 to 79 years of age, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
	
		
			  2007-08 
			 Average expenditure on fuel (£) 731 
			 Average winter fuel payment (£) 236 
			 Likely percentage of total fuel bill met by winter fuel payment (Percentage) 32 
		
	
	Between 1996-97 and 2005-06 pensioners' incomes increased by 29 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 15 per cent. real terms increase in utility bills between 1996-97 and 2006. It is important to note that whilst pensioner incomes tend to increase consistently, with two per cent growth between 2004-05 and 2005-06 building on the growth in earlier years, utility bills tend to fluctuate.
	Average household fuel expenditure for 2007-08 is estimated using the domestic fuel price inflation rate between the second quarter of 2006 to the second quarter of 2007, of 6 per cent. This is the most recent reliable fuel price inflation data, available from the BERR quarterly energy prices September 2007 report. The estimates given here for 2007-08 are subject to change if fuel inflation for the year ahead deviates from this rate.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures for 2007-08 are estimates based on the most recent available data and projections.
	2. Average winter fuel payments have been calculated by dividing expenditure on winter fuel payments by the number of households in receipt of winter fuel payments.